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Survey Gives NYC's Big Parks B-Plus For Maintenance

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A new survey gives New York City's large parks a B-plus rating for maintenance.

That's up from a B in 2011.

The survey of 43 parks ranging from 20 to 500 acres was conducted by the advocacy group New Yorkers for Parks.

It says 83 percent of parks scored in the A or B range. Three scored in the C range and one earned a D. In 2011, 80 percent of parks earned an A or B. One parked got a failing grade.

LINK: Read The Report (PDF)

While the improvements are encouraging, the survey said it's clear the parks department doesn't have sufficient resources to keep up with the demands of maintaining the city's 29,000 acres parkland.

"When you scratch below the surface, it's clear that the Parks Department has been ensnared in a property management version of 'Whac-A-Mole': they fix one problem and another emerges elsewhere. The pie just isn't big enough," Holly Leicht, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, said in a statement.

The survey looked at lawns, drinking fountains, sitting areas, courts, playgrounds, trees and bathrooms.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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