What's happening
The SHADE Act creates a grant program to help New York municipalities build shaded public gathering and transportation areas.
Why it matters
Targets Urban Heat and Public Health. By prioritizing projects that reduce mean radiant temperature and address the urban heat island effect, the bill seeks to lessen heat-related health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations in cities.
Focuses on High-Impact, High-Traffic Areas. Grant selection will favor proposals that benefit the largest number of people, such as busy parks, plazas, bus stops, and city blocks, maximizing community benefit and addressing equity in access to comfortable public spaces.
Requires Local Buy-In and Investment. Municipalities must match state grant funds dollar-for-dollar, ensuring local commitment to the projects and potentially increasing the total resources dedicated to creating shaded areas.
Sets Clear Evaluation and Implementation Standards. The Empire State Development Corporation is tasked with creating standards for measuring heat relief impact and must issue detailed rules within 180 days, aiming for timely and effective program rollout and accountability.
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Who cares
Municipal governments
They could compete for grants to add shade to public gathering spaces and transportation areas but would have to match awards dollar for dollar.
Empire State Development Corporation
It would administer the program, set award criteria and heat-impact standards, and favor projects serving the largest number of people.
Transit riders and cyclists
Municipal projects could add shade at bus stops and bicycling corridors with no or insufficient sun protection.
- Likely support
Park, plaza and trail users
Grants could support shaded gathering spaces, with projects required to demonstrate an impact on mean radiant temperature and focus on relief from urban heat island effects.
Headline styles
Add Shade to Public Spaces
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1028
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the urban development corporation act, in relation to enacting the "safe havens for all-day enjoyment (SHADE) act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "safe havens for all-day enjoyment (SHADE) act".
§ 2. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new section 16-bb to read as follows:
§ 16-bb. Safe havens for all-day enjoyment grant program. (1) Program established. There is hereby established a "safe havens for all-day enjoyment grant program" under the purview of the empire state development corporation. Such program shall be a competitive grant program designed to assist municipalities in the state with establishing shaded public gathering spaces and public transportation areas to enhance the enjoyment and use of such spaces where there is no existing or insufficient sun protection, as provided under this section.
(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Eligible project" shall mean a project proposed by a municipality to enhance shade in the following areas within such municipality:
(i) public gathering spaces, including but not limited to public parks, plazas, squares, or trails; and/or
(ii) public transportation areas, including but not limited to bus stops, city blocks, or bicycling corridors.
(b) "Grant recipients" shall mean municipalities selected to receive grant awards under the program pursuant to subdivision one of this section.
(c) "Program" shall mean the safe havens for all-day enjoyment grant program established under this section.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03097-01-5
(3) Selection of grant recipients. Grant recipients shall be selected by the corporation based on the strength of their proposals, including evaluation of eligible projects highlighted within such proposals. The following criteria shall be considered by the corporation in evaluating such proposals:
(a) Eligible projects shall be high impact in the number of people or events they will serve, as determined by the corporation by evaluating a history of events taking place at the location of such eligible projects, traffic studies, and any other evidence of regular use deemed relevant by the corporation;
(b) The corporation shall favor selection of eligible projects that will serve the largest number of people; and
(c) Eligible projects shall demonstrate an impact on mean radiant temperature, with a focus on reducing or providing relief from heat enhanced by the urban heat island effect, as determined by the corporation, who shall develop standards for demonstrating such impacts.
(4) Grants awarded and matching funds. (a) The corporation shall determine amounts to be awarded to grant recipients on an individual basis, based on the financial needs of the eligible projects proposed by such grant recipients. Criteria for such determinations shall be established by the corporation by rules and regulations.
(b) Grant recipients shall match the value of funds awarded to such grant recipients under paragraph (a) of this subdivision on a dollarfor-dollar basis for each eligible project.
(5) Funding. The corporation is authorized, within available appropriations in the empire state development fund established pursuant to section sixteen-m of this act or from other funds appropriated, to make grant awards available to grant recipients pursuant to the provisions of this section.
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 16-m of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new paragraph (p) to read as follows:
(p) Grant awards to grant recipients as set forth under section sixteen-bb of this act to support the safe havens for all-day enjoyment grant program to assist municipalities in the state with establishing shaded public gathering spaces and public transportation areas to enhance the enjoyment and use of such spaces where there is no existing or insufficient sun protection.
§ 4. Rules and regulations. The empire state development corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the state administrative procedure act that are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this act. Such rules and regulations shall be completed within one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 16-m of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, made by section three of this act shall not affect the expiration of such section and shall be deemed to expire therewith. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the urban development corporation act, in relation to enacting the "safe havens for all-day enjoyment (SHADE) act"
Purpose
This bill creates a grant program to help localities develop new shaded areas to improve public gathering spaces and transportation corridors.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 sets the name as the SHADE Act.
Section 2 establishes a new grant program to allow municipalities to deploy shading options in public gathering spaces and public transporta- tion areas.
Section 3 includes the new grant program in existing programs. Section 4 gives authority for rules and regulations.
Section 5 sets the effective date.
Justification
New Yorkers are increasingly experiencing the effects of rising temper- atures and prolonged heatwaves due to climate change, exacerbating health and environmental challenges across the state. Frequent exposure to intense sunlight in public spaces such as transportation corridors, town squares, playgrounds, and outdoor markets poses significant risks, including heat-related illnesses and long-term skin damage. Moreover, these conditions make many public spaces less inviting, discouraging their use and undermining efforts to create vibrant, livable communi- ties.
A targeted grant program to enhance shade in public spaces represents an innovative and community-driven approach to addressing these challenges. Shade structures, including tree plantings, pergolas, and other solutions, reduce harmful UV exposure, lower ambient temperatures, and improve public comfort, making these spaces more welcoming and accessi- ble to all New Yorkers. Importantly, this initiative would empower local governments to tailor shade enhancements to their unique needs and circumstances, fostering creativity and maximizing the program's impact. By reducing heat exposure, enhancing public spaces, and supporting community-specific planning, this grant program offers a cost-effective and scalable solution to a pressing public health and climate adaptation issue. It aligns with New York State's ongoing commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities while also supporting local economic vitality through increased public engagement in well-designed shared spaces.
This program is a step toward ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of where they live, can safely enjoy public spaces and thrive in their communities.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Subject to appropriation.
Effective date
180 days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.