Green Concessions

As the keeper of New York City’s green spaces, the Parks Department is committed to doing business in an environmentally friendly way. Parks concessionaires, ranging from hot dog stands to ice skating rinks, play an integral role in ensuring that, together, we are improving upon our green and sustainable practices.

When selecting our concessionaires, we take their green plans into consideration. Are they going to recycle? Do they use Energy Star™ compliant appliances? Do they employ energy efficient and water conservation measures?

We also promote green building techniques, such as what is required to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification. LEED™ is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED™ gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings? performance. LEED™ promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Furthermore, we encourage restaurants to train their employees in practices outlined by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA). Some restaurants certified by GRA include Ballfields Café (Central Park), The Boathouse (Central Park), and the West 79th Street Boat Basin Café (Riverside Park).

In addition to reducing our impact on the environment, adopting green practices helps our concessionaires cut back on expenses.

For concession opportunities, please visit our Business Opportunities page.