By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-11 20:36:04 | Updated at 2026-08-11 20:55:09
31 minutes ago
They’re filling the park — and their pockets — with green!
Central Park Conservancy bigwigs are raking in big bucks with 10 administrators earning salaries of $300,000 or more, according to the organization’s 2025 tax filing.
CEO Elizabeth Smith led the pack with an eye-watering $1,211,800 base salary in 2024, a nearly 30% over her $933,592 pay in 2023, the filing showed.
Her huge pay is twice what she made just five years ago, when she was paid $605,000 by the nonprofit, which manages and maintains the 843-acre park under a contract with the city Parks Department.
Smith, who has been CEO and president since 2018, served as former city Parks Department assistant commissioner under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg and also had a 25-year career in finance.
The CEO, who is married to former Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton, made headlines last year for voicing support for legislation to phase out horse carriages in Central Park, which has gained momentum since the shocking death of a teen tourist.
Her position to ban horse carriage drew the wrath of the horse carriage industry.
“Working for a ‘nonprofit’ has been very rewarding – for Smith,” said John Samuelsen, president of Transport Workers Union International, which represents horse carriage drivers.
“But under her watch, Central Park has descended into an e-bike, delivery vehicle, pedicab-filled nightmare for pedestrians and regular bicyclists. She’s done a terrible job managing New York City’s crown jewel.”
Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer Stephen Spinelli’s salary package surged 14% — from $654,429 in 2023 to $746,635 in 2024, according to the filings.
And Roger Mosier, chief of park operations, raked in $544,054, a 3% jump from his $528,552 compensation the prior year, according to the filings.
Seven other administrators earned salaries exceeding $300,000, and three others earned between $263,000 and $295,000.
The top executives receive bonuses or incentives in addition to their base salary.
A Conservancy spokesperson declined to comment on its executives’ compensation.
But in its 990 report to the IRS, the group said its compensation and management development group members check with industry consultants to evaluate compensation levels to “attract and retain the best talent in the industry.”
“The Conservancy recognizes the invaluable contributions of its current senior management team to its achievements thus far,” the statement said.
The nonprofit’s “comprehensive compensation program” includes base pay, bonuses and multi-year long-term incentives, the statement added.
“As such, the Conservancy’s compensation framework is structured to drive and incentivize present high-performance standards, acknowledge and reward the expertise and tenure of our team members and provide multi-year long-term incentives aimed at retaining key management personnel.”
