By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER MANHATTAN — For the last several months, the Parks Department has been meeting with civic leaders, community residents and park users as part of a campaign to develop its "Northern Manhattan Parks Master Plan."
Now Parks officials are taking to the Internet to find out what everyone else thinks.
The department has been working with the community and public officials to come up with a plan that will guide and shape the development and revitalization of Upper Manhattan parks for the next 20 years.
At a planning session held by the Parks Department in July, community residents voiced big dreams for area parks with visions of ice skating rinks with hot chocolate sold ringside as well as an outdoor movie projection area in Inwood Hill Park.
And then there were the more practical ideas, such as better accessibility in the park for police and fire patrols — and more public restrooms.
The Parks Department is currently working with an Advisory Council made up of residents and city officials to prepare "conceptual level plans" for the parks and will "make recommendations on projects, design, operations and programming strategies."
In October, the team will present a draft of its comprehensive plan to Community Board 12 for input.
Residents interested in weighing in are invited to visit the virtual map to see what community members have already suggested and are also asked to leave thoughts of their own by clicking "Propose an Action."
