MANHATTAN — A Supreme Court judge has once again rejected a city plan to give 20 private schools priority to use athletic fields on Randall's Island in exchange for $45 million.
A coalition of public school parents and students, community groups and park advocates, have argued for years that the deal effectively turns public parkland into a private domain.
Justice Marilyn Shafer ruled on Tuesday that the deal was improper because it did not go through a public review, and ordered the city to pay the plaintiffs' legal fees and costs.
"It’s a major win," Norman Siegel, a lawyer for opponents of the city's plan, told the New York Times.
In February 2008, Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich had annulled the agreement, ruling that the Bloomberg administration did not go through the city’s public land use review.
But the city has continued to try and refurbish 63 baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse and other fields for the private schools, which include Buckley, Chapin, and Dalton.
"I hope this forever puts an end to the city’s pay-to-play schemes," Geoffrey Croft, president of New York City Park Advocates, told the Times.
"These parks are supposed to be for the public, not just those who can afford to play on them."
