Martin Maher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Brooklyn Parks Commissioner | |
| Assumed office February 2017 | |
| Appointed by | Mitchell Silver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Martin Maher |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Brooklyn Parks Borough Commissioner |
| Nickname | Marty Maher |
Martin "Marty" Maher is the Brooklyn Parks Commissioner for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, assuming the office in 2017. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Maher is a 27-year veteran of the Coast Guard and served in the Persian Gulf War. [3] He served as a boatswain's mate. For over 45 years, Maher has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America. [3]
Maher began his career in the Parks department as an Urban Park Ranger. [7] Additionally, Maher worked in a spectrum of different positions with-in the department from manager at Coney Island, to inspector at Shea Stadium, to Yankee Stadium, to the 79th Street Boat Basin, and Randall's Island. [3] [7] Before being appointed the Brooklyn Parks Commissioner, Maher served as chief of staff for 18 years in the Parks Department's Brooklyn office. [3] Since assuming the commissioner's office in 2017, Maher has opened and renovated parks throughout Brooklyn. [8]
In February, 2017 Maher was appointed Brooklyn Parks Commissioner by New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver. [5] [9]
Maher is a proponent of skateparks and actions sports. [7] [10] He believes there should be a skatepark in every community in Brooklyn. [7] As of December 2020, Brooklyn has 15 public skateparks, with 4 additional skateparks in the works. [7] In the late 2010s, Maher worked with a community group in Brownsville, Brooklyn, led by local professional skateboarder Wade Yates, to fund a skatepark built by Spohn Ranch in Betsy Head Park. [11] Maher initiated the Skatefest event series, hosted by the Parks Department. [12] [7] Skate Fest II took place at Ocean Hill Playground in Brownsville. [13] [10]
