Exclusive | Central Park Conservancy execs rolling in green including CEO who rakes in $1.2M salary after massive raise: records
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...