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“In a gradual but profound transition, New York’s park system had become dependent on private partners. The private sector’s involvement was pervasive by 2003, but came in very different forms. This case … highlights specific items to map the spectrum of engagement ranging from contracts where government is clearly in control, to philanthropy where government is mostly passive, to a range of complex collaboration in between. The five points of focus are: Outsourcing much of the maintenance of the Parks Department’s fleet of vehicles; The evolution of the Central Park Conservancy from an informal group of volunteers to a sophisticated and well-funded non-profit with full responsibility for managing New York’s flagship park; Bryant Park’s transformation from a drug market to a glittering landmark, under the auspices of a private corporation subject to only limited Parks Department influence; The emergence of the Bronx River Alliance, comprising dozens of public and private organizations, as steward for the troubled river and the lands on its banks; The single-minded (and almost single-handed) campaign of the entertainer Bette Midler to realize her unique vision for a public park in a rough area of Harlem. Through the discussion of the intricacies and necessity of public-private partnerships in redeveloping parks in New York City, the case provides a window for students into the world of competing definitions of civic interest and the role of leadership in shaping urban policies.”