Henry J. Stern, who presided over New York City’s emerald empire for 15 years as commissioner of parks and recreation under two mayors, surpassing all but Robert Moses in tenure and enhancements to the city’s green spaces and playgrounds, died March 28 at his home in Manhattan. He was 83.

Mr. Stern was the commissioner under Edward I. Koch from 1983 to 1990, and under Rudolph W. Giuliani from 1994 to 2002. Despite shrinking budgets, vandalism, litter, lawsuits and opposition by special interests, Mr. Stern was generally credited with making the city’s vast archipelago of parks, playgrounds, ball fields, swimming pools, recreation centers and beaches cleaner, safer and more attractive and accessible. He also managed to add 1,600 acres of parkland, bringing the city’s total to more than 28,000.