Report: Parks Dept. Blows Chances to Pull in $8.8 Million

A poky effort to secure contracts for food vendors on park lands has cost the city millions in lost revenue, according to a report by Comptroller John Liu’s office.

The Dept. of Parks and Recreation could have collected as much as $8.8 million across the city in revenue, reported the Daily News. Most revenue was lost in Manhattan, but Queens came in second in revenue lost.

Much of that money could have been earned right in Bayside, according to the report.

"Regarding the comptroller’s audit on Parks’ controls over the awarding of concessions, we disagree fundamentally with its process and analysis and we believe it is inaccurate and misleading in its conclusions," a statement from the Parks Department said. "We disagree with the conclusions of this audit, especially its inclusion of what the comptroller calls 'foregone revenue.'"

Here’s the breakdown of how much in concession funds were lost at Bayside area parks, according to the report:

• $379,167 in lost concessions from Clearview Café , at 201-10 Cross Island Parkway 
• $4,499 from concessions at Crocheron Park
• $1,240 from  concessions at Little Bay Park
• another $1,031 from Crocheron Park
• $250 from Marie Curie Park concessions

Additional reporting by Nathan Duke.