The NYC Greenways Coalition convened the third NYC Greenways Summit September 17-18, 2026. The event was produced by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. Recordings of the speakers and panels will be available soon on YouTube.

The 2026 Summit focused on how greenways can advance economic justice and climate resilience. Speakers will include:

      • Keynote Speaker: Hon. Julia Kerson, NYC Deputy Mayor of Operations
      • Keynote Speaker: Mike McGinn, CEO of America Walks and former mayor of Seattle

The summit included updates on the:

2026 Summit Agenda

Thursday, Sep 17 – Greenways and Economic Justice

  • Welcome – Kelly McGuinness, Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program, Hosting Sponsor
  • Summit Kickoff – Hunter Armstrong*, NYC Greenways Coalition Co-Chair
  • Morning Keynote Speaker: Hon. Julia Kerson, NYC Deputy Mayor of Operations. Panel: Agency Updates and Interagency Coordination on NYC Greenways: Hon. Michael Flynn, NYC DOT Commissioner; Hon. Tricia Shimamura, NYC Parks Commissioner; Paul Lozito, Deputy Director, Mayor’s Offices of Climate and Environmental Justice; Hunter Armstrong* (moderator), NYC Greenways Coalition and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. 
  • Panel: Securing Funds for NYC Greenways at NYS and Federal Level: Chauncy Young*, Harlem River Coalition and NYC Greenways Coalition Co-Chair (moderator); Hon. José Serrano, NYS Senator; Jordan Salinger, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice; Dylan Carey, Parks and Trails NY; Lauren Cosgrove, National Parks Conservation and Recreation Association
  • Panel: How to Get Greenways Faster and Less Expensive – Lauren Micir, AECOM (moderator); Kelly McGuinness, Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program; John Surico, Friends of the Queensway; Meera Joshi, Green-Wood Cemetery
  • Afternoon Keynote Speaker: Mike McGinn, American Walks Executive Director and former Mayor of Seattle. In conversation with Sofia Barandiaran*, East Coast Greenway Alliance
  • Networking and Refreshments – Welcome and Remarks by Councilmember Shaun Abreu, chair of NYC Council Transportation Committee. Introduction by Eric McClure*, StreetsPAC. NYC Greenways Weekend Event Organizers will be recognized.

Friday, Sep 18 – Greenways, Economic Justice, and Climate Resilience

  • Panel: Greenways and Green Infrastructure – Tamar Renaud, NYS Director, Trust for Public Land (moderator); Arturo Garcia-Costas, Program Director, New York  Community Trust;  Melissa Enoch, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
  • Panel: Balancing Greenways, Industrial Areas, and Working Waterfronts – EdMundo Martinez*, Community Activist (moderator); Jesse Solomon, Executive Director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation; Ryan White, Jacobs
  • 1:30 – 3:30 pm: Workshop:  Updates on Longterm Citywide Greenway Plan and Discussion
    • Introduction by Alexis Taylor, NYC Economic Development Corporation
    • Presentation by TYLin

*Denotes 2026 NYC Greenways Summit Steering Committee

Check out 2026 Greenways Weekend (September 19 and 20 through late September) for activities that are open to the public and happening on current and future greenways across NYC. 

The NYC Greenways Coalition and 2026 Summit receive support from: 

New York Community Trust and A Chance Fund 

Lead Sponsor:

Sponsors:

TYLin

In Kind Design Support:

Hosting Sponsor:

Summit Steering Committee: Hunter Armstrong (Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and NYC Greenways Coalition co-chair); Chauncy Young (Harlem River Coalition and and NYC Greenways Coalition co-chair); Sofia Barandiaran (East Coast Greenway Alliance), Ali Goldfarb (Trust for Public Land), EdMundo Martinez (Bronx Activist), Eric McClure (StreetsPAC), Kathy Park Price (New Yorkers for Parks), and and interns Dede, Natalie, and Ruhama. Communications consulting support from Biederman LLC (PR) and Cristiana Peña and Nick Porter (digital).

Thanks to the many speakers, supporters, and volunteers who made the 2026 NYC Greenways Summit possible.

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