Authorizes the city of Yonkers to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Yonkers gains authority to alienate and discontinue parkland, allowing parcels to be sold, transferred, or repurposed under safeguards, affecting park users and redevelopment.

SIGNED CHAP.337

Overview

Bill S 8271 authorizes the City of Yonkers to alienate (transfer/sell) and discontinue the use of certain parklands. The bill was introduced on May 28, 2025 and ultimately enacted into law, becoming Chapter 337 of the Laws of 2025 on August 15, 2025. The sponsor listed is Andrea Stewart-Cousins (primary).

Status: Signed into law (Chapter 337, 2025)

Companion bill: A 8677 ( Assembly)

Primary focus: Permits Yonkers to change the status/use of specific parkland properties

What the bill does

Grants Yonkers explicit authority to alienate certain parklands and discontinue their use as parkland. In practical terms, this allows the city to transfer, sell, or repurpose land that is currently designated as parkland, subject to the bill’s statutory requirements.

Applies to identified parklands within Yonkers (the bill’s text would specify which parcels qualify).

Note: The summary above reflects the bill’s core authorization. The precise conditions, safeguards, and procedural steps (e.g., notices, hearings, environmental review, or state/local approvals) would be set out in the enacted statute itself.

Key provisions and changes (as indicated by the bill’s scope)

Authorization for municipal action: Yonkers gains specific authority to alienate parkland and discontinue park use for the designated parcels.

Identification of affected property: The bill designates which parklands are subject to this authority.

Procedural framework: While not detailed here, the enacted law would establish the process Yonkers must follow to execute alienation (e.g., approvals, notices, or public procedures).

Who is affected

City of Yonkers: The primary government entity empowered to take action under the bill.

parkland users and the public: Residents and visitors who rely on the designated parklands for recreation and open space could be affected, depending on how the land is repurposed.

Potential redevelopment interests: If parklands are alienated, there could be new development or alternative uses on the affected parcels, subject to local implementation requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: May 28, 2025

Senate actions: Passed Senate on 2025-06-09; referred to Assembly; home rule requests and related steps included

Assembly actions: Substituted for A 8677 on 2025-06-13; passed Assembly on 2025-06-13

Return to Senate and governor: Delivered to Governor on 2025-08-12

Governor action: Signed and enacted as Chapter 337 on 2025-08-15

Companion: A 8677 ( Assembly version)

Practical implications

The bill enables a formal process for converting parkland to other uses in Yonkers, subject to the statute’s protections and requirements.

Local decision-making authority is broadened, but the specific safeguards and public-interest considerations would be defined in the enacted law.

If you’d like, I can pull the exact text of Chapter 337 to extract detailed provisions (e.g., notice periods, public hearings, replacement parkland requirements, or veto/oversight mechanisms).

Bill