Yonkers, NY Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation
- Cook Field fee
- $25 weekend/holiday, $10 weekday
- Austin Avenue Field fee
- $25 weekend/holiday, $10 weekday
- Sullivan Oval fee
- $25 weekend/holiday, $10 weekday
- Fee destination
- Deposited with Comptroller, credited to Recreation Dept.
- Default penalty
- Class II offense under § 1-21 if unpermitted
Summary
Yonkers requires a permit before using City-owned picnic grounds at Cook Field, Austin Avenue Field, or Sullivan Oval. The Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation issues the permits under City Code Article III, and each site carries its own weekend and weekday fee. Fees are collected and credited to the Recreation Department's account with the Comptroller.
The Commissioner is hereby authorized to issue permits for the use of City-owned picnic areas upon payment of the fees hereinafter prescribed. ... Cook Field: (1) Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: $25. (2) All other days of the week: $10. Austin Avenue Field: (1) Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: $25. (2) All other days of the week: $10. Sullivan Oval: (1) Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: $25. (2) All other days of the week: $10.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4745274; v31 updated 2025-10-28; through 10-28-2025).
Full Breakdown
§ 100-12 sets three separate fee schedules: at Cook Field, Austin Avenue Field, and Sullivan Oval, the charge is $25 for use on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday and $10 for any other day of the week. O. No. O. No. 10-1949). Article III does not spell out an application form, advance-notice window, or maximum group size the way the newsstand-permit article a few sections later does, so a group booking one of the three picnic grounds should expect the Commissioner's office to set those operational details administratively rather than by ordinance.
The article also carries no article-specific violation clause, meaning an unpermitted picnic gathering or fee non-payment on these grounds falls back on the citywide default penalty at § 1-21.
Violations & Fines
Article III sets no fine of its own, so a violation defaults to § 1-21's citywide schedule: a Class II offense, carrying a criminal fine of $100 to $5,000, up to 15 days in jail, or a civil penalty of $250 to $5,000. Repeating the same violation within three years escalates the offense to Class I penalties, up to $10,000 or a year in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Yonkers parks need a picnic permit?
How much does a Yonkers picnic permit cost?
What happens if I use a picnic area without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yonkers
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Park Event Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle park event permits.