Mitchell Silver facts for kids

Mitchell J. Silver (born June 27, 1960) is an expert in city planning. He used to be the commissioner for the New York City Parks Department.

Mayor Bill de Blasio chose him for the job. He started in May 2014 and led the department until July 2021. Before that, he was the president of the American Planning Association (APA) from 2011 to 2013. He was the first African American to hold this important position.

Mitchell Silver's Education

Mitchell Silver went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn. He earned a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute. Later, he got a Master of Urban Planning degree from Hunter College.

He is also certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). This means he has met high standards in urban planning. He is also a licensed Professional Planner (PP) in New Jersey.

Mitchell Silver's Career in Planning

Mitchell Silver has held many important jobs in city planning. He worked as a policy and planning director for the Manhattan Borough President's office. He was also a city planner for the New York City Department of Planning.

He was a principal at a planning firm in New York City. He also served as a town manager in New Jersey. In Washington, D.C., he was the deputy planning director.

Before becoming the NYC Parks Commissioner, he was the chief Planning and Development Officer for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. In Raleigh, he managed a large team of 230 employees. This team worked in City Planning, Community Development, and Inspections. He also oversaw offices for Transportation Planning, Economic Development, and Urban Design.

As president of the American Planning Association (APA), he worked to show how important city planning is in the 21st century. He was the first African American to be president of the APA.

In 2015, he told the New York Times that Brooklyn Bridge Park was one of his favorite parks in the city.

Leading New York City Parks

Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City, chose Mitchell Silver to be the Parks Commissioner in 2014. The Mayor said that Silver cared deeply about fairness and equality. He wanted to make sure that parks and open spaces were well-kept and available in every neighborhood of the city.

The New York Times newspaper noted that Silver's choice showed the Mayor wanted to deal with the issue of inequality in the city's parks. In 2017, Silver appointed Marty Maher to be the Brooklyn Parks Commissioner.

Teaching and Special Honors

Mitchell Silver has taught graduate-level planning classes at several universities. These include Harvard Graduate School of Design, Hunter College, Brooklyn College, Pratt Institute, and North Carolina State University.

He also gives talks across the United States and in other countries about different planning topics. He helped write and edit a book called "Local Planning: Contemporary Principles and Practice." This book is a helpful guide for local governments involved in planning.

In 2012, the Urban Times magazine called him one of the top international thinkers in urban design. The next year, UBM Future Cities named him one of the top 100 City Innovators in the world. The Royal Town Planning Institute made him an honorary lifetime member. In 2014, he joined the College of Fellows of the American Planning Association.

In 2016, Silver was chosen as a Fellow of the UK's Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS). In 2017, he became an Honorary American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Member.

Mitchell Silver's Personal Life

Mitchell Silver is married to Mary. She works as an administrator for Brooklyn Community Services, a nonprofit organization. They have one daughter and live in an apartment building in downtown Brooklyn. He has said he is a "social media addict."