Permits

You will need to apply for a special events permit if you are planning to host an event in the park where you expect to have a group of 20 or more people. These permits serve as proof that you have permission from the Parks Department to have a group larger than 20 people in any specific area in the park.

Please note: You must apply for a special event permit AT LEAST 21 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR EVENT. There is a $25.00 processing fee for a special events permit, which can be paid by credit card if you submit your permit online, or by check or money order if you mail your application to Parks. The fee is nonrefundable. 

Complete the Parks Department’s Special Events Application

If you are mailing an application, the address to mail is: 1 Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, NY 10462. NYC Parks does not issue sound permits to the general public.

Check out this helpful article from The City for more details holding events in NYC Parks.

If you are a sports league and would like to use one of the athletic fields in Van Cortlandt Park, you need to apply for an athletic field permit.

Please remember to adhere to the Guidelines for Use of Fields and Court Space. Apply for an Athletic Field permit through the Parks Department’s website.

NYC Parks processes film shoot permits. Request Form

Please note that NYC Parks guidelines for filming and photography are applicable in Van Cortlandt Park. Please submit your application a minimum of 7 to 14 days in advance for review. Depending on the nature of production, a meeting to discuss logistics may be required. 

After you have obtained the date and location approval, most film shoots will require the following documents for final approval and authorization:

• Original film shoot permit issued by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
• Original Schedule A issued by the Mayor’s Office
• Updated Insurance Certificate with the following added insureds: Prospect Park Alliance, City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation, City of New York
• Refundable Bond Fee and other fees associated with the production, where applicable.

Natural Areas (including woodlands) are not available for film shoots. 

Permits are not issued on major holidays or weekends. Permits are also not issued on Mondays or the day after a major holiday. 

Barbecuing and large picnics gatherings are only allowed in two places in Van Cortlandt Park.

Special Events permits are required for groups of twenty people or more:

• Allen Shandler Recreation Area off Jerome Avenue
• Pool Area at Broadway & Manhattan College Parkway

The park is available for wedding ceremonies only—no receptions. Other restrictions are as follows: no amplification for any purpose; one hour maximum reservations for the ceremony. (Separate arrangements may be made for photography.) Tossing rice, birdseed, flowers, confetti or the like is not permitted. No physical set up such as decorations, floral display, tents, rugs or runners are allowed. No chairs, except with prior approval for a specified number of elderly or infirm guests. Maximum number of participants: 100

Any research conducted on lands managed by NYC Parks requires a Research Permit. Examples include observational surveys, soil sampling, vegetation plot sampling, insect collecting, bird banding and small mammal trapping.

Please visit NYC Parks’ Research Permit page for more information.