NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue to step down at end of May

New York City Parks Department Commissioner Sue Donoghue will step down at the end of May after three and a half years of overseeing the city’s sprawling parks system, including more than 30,000 acres of green space and most of its beaches.

Donoghue announced her departure in a message to staff obtained by Gothamist, thanking the department’s workers, affectionately referred to as “parkies,” for their dedication. She praised their efforts to keep the city’s parks vibrant despite fiscal constraints.

Her tenure was marked by steep budget cuts from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, some of which were later partially restored but never reached the levels sought by advocates.

Donoghue also took on one of the city’s more entrenched bureaucratic challenges: the lifeguard union. Under her leadership, the department negotiated the first meaningful contract changes in four decades, allowing the city to regain control over lifeguard training. The changes came amid lifeguard shortages and heightened safety concerns.

Seven people drowned at city beaches last year, though most of the deaths occurred when lifeguards were off-duty.

“We also made historic progress in public safety at our pools and beaches, negotiating the first meaningful changes to the lifeguard contract in 40 years to strengthen our management, recruitment, and coordination of the lifeguard corps,” Donoghue said in an email to parks employees, highlighting the new contract’s effect on recruitment and management.

“Though my time as Commissioner is coming to a close, I know this agency is in the best hands—yours. Keep up the extraordinary work, take pride in all that we’ve accomplished, and continue to show up for our city, our parks, and each other.”

Adams credited Donoghue for her work on the city’s lifeguard shortage and for expanding swimming classes to more New Yorkers.

“From cleaning up our city’s parks to expanding green spaces and making swimming classes more accessible, Commissioner Sue Donoghue has been an invaluable part of our administration, and her impact will be felt for generations to come,” Adams said.

“We thank Sue for her years of dedicated service to the city and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”

Donoghue is adding her name to a growing list of commissioners who have quit their jobs in the Adams administration. Her departure comes just weeks ahead of the Democratic mayoral primary — though Adams has announced he will run as an independent.

It was not immediately clear where Donoghue might be headed next.

Catalina Gonella contributed reporting.