The emergency shelter for asylum seekers in Floyd Bennet Field will operate for another year, the New York Post reported.
The National Parks Service, which oversees the former airfield, notified City Hall on Friday that it agreed to the Adams administration’s request for a lease extension to continue operating the 2,000-bed tent shelter, the paper said.
The original lease was set to expire Saturday.
“This extension request was thoroughly reviewed and responds to the State of New York’s continued emergency declaration,” wrote Jennifer T. Nersesian, superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, a part of the National Park Service. “As stewards of this site, visitor access, public safety and preservation of natural and cultural resources are our top priorities. Our team has worked to ensure Floyd Bennett Field remains accessible to the public while the lease is in place and will continue to do so for the extension of the lease.”
The paper has previously reported that some residents of nearby Marine Park say they have seen an increase in panhandling in their neighborhood since the shelter opened in August 2023.
