N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 96
Unless otherwise provided by law, the commissioner of public works shall appoint, to hold office during his pleasure, a superintendent of parks, who shall have, under the direction of the commissioner, the supervision, care, management and control of all the parks of the city and of such portions of the streets as pass through or intersect the same, and of the shade trees of the city. Subject to the direction of the commissioner and to the ordinances of the common council, he shall prescribe the powers and duties of his subordinates and shall, except as otherwise provided by law, superintend the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for park purposes. He shall keep an account of such expenditures and shall approve all claims against the city on account thereof before submission to the comptroller for audit. The superintendent, under the direction of the commissioner, may make all ordinary repairs and improvements upon the parks and such intersecting streets, may employ all laborers needed thereon, and fix their wages, subject to the approval of the commissioner and the board of estimate and apportionment. Except as otherwise provided by law, he shall conduct, with the aid of the corporation counsel, all negotiations and proceedings for the acquisition of lands for park purposes, when the same shall have been authorized by ordinance of the common council and approved by the board of estimate and apportionment. He shall make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the common council and laws of the state, as he shall deem proper for the government, management and care of the parks and of the streets in and through the same, and of such other streets, being approaches thereto, as may be designated by ordinance of the common council as parkways, and such rules and regulations, when approved by the common council, shall have the force and effect of city ordinances. The superintendent shall have such other powers and be charged with such other duties, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the state, as the commissioner may direct, or as the common council by ordinance may define and prescribe.
N.Y. Second Class Cities Law § 96