Native to Asia and introduced to the United States in 2014, the Spotted Lanternfly has emerged as a significant threat to urban ecosystems since its population surge in 2019. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Spotted Lanternfly on biodiversity within New York City forest health and outdoor recreation using species richness as a proxy for biodiversity in New York City parks, focusing on how Spotted Lanternfly infestation affects the variety and abundance of local species. Publicly available data, including records from the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health (BISEH), will be analyzed to assess changes in species diversity. Many plant species are more susceptible to disease and insect attacks, potentially diminishing species diversity. These results suggest insights into Spotted Lanternflies’ effects on urban biodiversity and contribute recommendations for forest management and conservation strategies in New York City. We will be exploring to what extent do Spotted Lanternflies, have an effect on the Tree-of-heaven species population in NYC parks.