As the New York City Regional Director for New York State Parks, Leslie Wright oversees the 8 NYS parks in the 5 boroughs of New York City including Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (Harlem), Roberto Clemente SP (Bronx), and the newest....Shirley Chisholm State Park (Brooklyn). Together, the 8 parks host nearly 9 million visitors each year. Thanks to historic investment in NYS Parks, Leslie has overseen unprecedented capital improvements to the state parks in NYC while also developing new programming and public - private partnerships such as with Major League Baseball, Bronx Children’s Museum, and The Horticultural Society of New York. In addition, Leslie had the joyous responsibility for implementing the Governor’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative to create and enhance public open space in central Brooklyn, including the creation of Shirley Chisholm State Park, 8 new community playgrounds, and capital improvements to 22 community gardens and 4 recreation centers. Prior to joining NYS Parks in 2014, Leslie practiced law in both the public and private sectors. From 2007 to 2011, Leslie led land conservation planning and acquisition as the New York State Director at The Trust for Public Land. Leslie holds a JD from Brooklyn Law School, an M.A. in Chinese Literature from the University of Michigan, and has very happily resided in Brooklyn for 30 years — next to a park.