S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8749--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 2, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Local Governments -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Govern-
ments in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to the use of funds for the
acquisition of property for park, playground, and recreational facili-
ties and equipment
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subdivision 4 of section 277 of
the town law, as added by chapter 727 of the laws of 1992, are amended
to read as follows:
(a) Before the planning board may approve a subdivision plat contain-
ing residential units AND SUBDIVISION PLATS SEEKING TO DIVIDE LAND
EXCEEDING TWENTY-FIVE ACRES FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT,
such subdivision plat shall also show, when required by such board, a
park or parks suitably located for playground or other recreational
purposes.
(c) In the event the planning board makes a finding pursuant to para-
graph (b) of this subdivision that the proposed subdivision plat
presents a proper case for requiring a park or parks suitably located
for playgrounds or other recreational purposes, THEN SUCH LAND SHALL BE
SET ASIDE AND DECLARED HELD IN THE PUBLIC TRUST FOR USE LIMITED TO PARK,
PLAYGROUND, OR RECREATION, TOGETHER WITH A SUM OF MONEY EQUAL TO TWENTY
PERCENT OF THE VALUE OF THE LAND OR TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TOWN'S
PROJECTED COSTS TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY FOR PARK, PLAYGROUND OR RECRE-
ATIONAL PURPOSES WHICHEVER IS GREATER BUT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY PERCENT
OF THE VALUE OF THE LAND, TO BE DEPOSITED IN A TRUST FUND FOR IMPROVE-
MENT, EXPANSION, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING COSTS RELATED TO DESIGN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13000-03-6
A. 8749--A 2
AND CONSTRUCTION, AND COSTS RELATED TO MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL MAINTE-
NANCE OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITY CREATED ON THE
LAND(S) SET ASIDE FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
(D) IN THE EVENT THE PLANNING BOARD MAKES A FINDING PURSUANT TO PARA-
GRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION THAT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION PLAT
PRESENTS A PROPER CASE FOR REQUIRING A PARK OR PARKS SUITABLY LOCATED
FOR PLAYGROUNDS OR OTHER RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, but that a suitable park
or parks of adequate size to meet the requirement cannot be properly
located on such subdivision plat, the planning board may require a sum
of money in lieu thereof, in an amount to be established by the town
board. In making such determination of suitability, the board shall
assess the size and suitability of lands shown on the subdivision plat
which could be possible locations for park or recreational facilities,
as well as practical factors including whether there is a need for addi-
tional facilities in the immediate neighborhood OR EXISTING PARKS, PLAY-
GROUNDS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROXIMATE TO THE PROPOSED SUBDIVI-
SION THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVEMENT, EXPANSION, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT
AND MANAGEMENT AND/OR GENERAL MAINTENANCE. Any monies required by the
planning board in lieu of land for park, playground or other recreation-
al purposes, pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be depos-
ited into a trust fund to be used by the town exclusively for park,
playground or other recreational purposes, including the acquisition of
property, IMPROVEMENT, EXPANSION, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PARK,
PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING COSTS
RELATED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND COSTS RELATED TO MANAGEMENT AND
GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITIES.
§ 2. The subdivision heading and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subdivision
6 of section 274-a of the town law, as added by chapter 694 of the laws
of 1992, are amended to read as follows:
Reservation of parkland on site plans containing residential units AND
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SITE PLANS SEEKING TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE LAND
EXCEEDING TWENTY-FIVE ACRES.
(c) In the event the authorized board makes a finding pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this subdivision that the proposed site plan presents a
proper case for requiring a park or parks suitably located for play-
grounds or other recreational purposes, THEN SUCH LAND SHALL BE SET
ASIDE AND DECLARED HELD IN THE PUBLIC TRUST FOR USE LIMITED TO PARK,
PLAYGROUND, OR RECREATION, TOGETHER WITH A SUM OF MONEY EQUAL TO TWENTY
PERCENT OF THE VALUE OF THE LAND OR TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TOWN'S
PROJECTED COSTS TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY FOR PARK, PLAYGROUND OR RECRE-
ATIONAL PURPOSES WHICHEVER IS GREATER BUT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY PERCENT
OF THE VALUE OF THE LAND, TO BE DEPOSITED IN A TRUST FUND FOR IMPROVE-
MENT OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT,
INCLUDING COSTS RELATED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND COSTS RELATED TO
MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND RECRE-
ATIONAL FACILITY CREATED ON THE LAND(S) SET ASIDE FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
(D) IN THE EVENT THE PLANNING BOARD MAKES A FINDING PURSUANT TO PARA-
GRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION THAT THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN PRESENTS A
PROPER CASE FOR REQUIRING A PARK OR PARKS SUITABLY LOCATED FOR PLAY-
GROUNDS OR OTHER RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, but that a suitable park or
parks of adequate size to meet the requirement cannot be properly
located on such site plan, the [authorized] PLANNING board may require a
sum of money in lieu thereof to be established by the town board. In
making such determination of suitability, the board shall assess the
size and suitability of lands shown on the site plan which could be
A. 8749--A 3
possible locations for park or recreational facilities, as well as prac-
tical factors including whether there is a need for additional facili-
ties in the immediate neighborhood OR EXISTING PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROXIMATE TO THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION THAT WOULD
BENEFIT FROM IMPROVEMENT, EXPANSION, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT AND MANAGEMENT
AND/OR GENERAL MAINTENANCE. Any monies required by the [authorized]
PLANNING board in lieu of land for park, playground or other recreation-
al purposes, pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be depos-
ited into a trust fund to be used by the town exclusively for park,
playground or other recreational purposes, including the acquisition of
property, IMPROVEMENT, EXPANSION, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PARK,
PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, COSTS RELATED TO
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND COSTS RELATED TO MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL
MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK, PLAYGROUND, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
[(d)] (E) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subdivi-
sion, if the land included in a site plan under review is a portion of a
subdivision plat which has been reviewed and approved pursuant to
section two hundred seventy-six of this article, the authorized board
shall credit the applicant for any land set aside or money donated in
lieu thereof under such subdivision plat approval. In the event of
resubdivision of such plat, nothing shall preclude the additional reser-
vation of parkland or money donated in lieu thereof.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.