Susan M. Donoghue became Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in February 2022. From 2014 until 2022, Susan M. Donoghue has served as President of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that operates the park in partnership with the City of New York, and Prospect Park Administrator.
In this dual appointment by Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, Sue set the vision and overall strategy for Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s flagship, 585-acre park, and led a workforce of 200 Alliance and NYC Parks staff in the day-to-day operations of the park, which spans from landscape management to maintenance and operations; design and construction; volunteer services; visitor services; public programs and other functions that keep the park green and vibrant.
As President of the Alliance, Sue led fundraising and revenue-generating activities that provide $12 million in general operating support for the park each year. Since her appointment in 2014, she has been responsible for raising over $130 million for capital improvements in the park, including the recent restoration of the Flatbush Avenue perimeter and new entrances to the park, and the upcoming restoration of the Vale in the park’s northeast corner. Sue led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for the Alliance, establishing the framework for continued innovation and success. She also spearheaded the transformation of People + Culture at the Alliance through the lens of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Prior to her appointment, Sue served as a Senior Advisor and Assistant Commissioner at NYC Parks, where she played a leadership role in PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s blueprint for enhancing the city’s sustainability. Sue earned a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. She is a long-time New Yorker, and she and her husband and three children avidly enjoy New York City parks as part of their daily life.