N.Y. SCC Law § 96

§ 96. Superintendent of parks. Unless otherwise provided by law, the\ncommissioner of public works shall appoint, to hold office during his\npleasure, a superintendent of parks, who shall have, under the direction\nof the commissioner, the supervision, care, management and control of\nall the parks of the city and of such portions of the streets as pass\nthrough or intersect the same, and of the shade trees of the city.\nSubject to the direction of the commissioner and to the ordinances of\nthe common council, he shall prescribe the powers and duties of his\nsubordinates and shall, except as otherwise provided by law, superintend\nthe expenditure of all moneys appropriated for park purposes. He shall\nkeep an account of such expenditures and shall approve all claims\nagainst the city on account thereof before submission to the comptroller\nfor audit. The superintendent, under the direction of the commissioner,\nmay make all ordinary repairs and improvements upon the parks and such\nintersecting streets, may employ all laborers needed thereon, and fix\ntheir wages, subject to the approval of the commissioner and the board\nof estimate and apportionment. Except as otherwise provided by law, he\nshall conduct, with the aid of the corporation counsel, all negotiations\nand proceedings for the acquisition of lands for park purposes, when the\nsame shall have been authorized by ordinance of the common council and\napproved by the board of estimate and apportionment. He shall make such\nrules and regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the\ncommon council and laws of the state, as he shall deem proper for the\ngovernment, management and care of the parks and of the streets in and\nthrough the same, and of such other streets, being approaches thereto,\nas may be designated by ordinance of the common council as parkways, and\nsuch rules and regulations, when approved by the common council, shall\nhave the force and effect of city ordinances. The superintendent shall\nhave such other powers and be charged with such other duties, not\ninconsistent with the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the\nstate, as the commissioner may direct, or as the common council by\nordinance may define and prescribe.\n