Mayor Bill de Blasio, alongside NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, yesterday, announced that 60 of the City’s parks and playgrounds have been improved. The completion of these improvements is an achievement for the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), a program that invests in public parks in densely populated neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty.
The CPI is the first step of NYC Parks: Framework for an Equitable Future, a program that outlines NYC Parks’ goal of making quality parks more accessible to New Yorkers. When it began in October 2014, the plan was to fully renovate 35 community parks using a $130 million capital investment. The Department of Environmental Protection provided $36.3 million in capital funding to be used towards green infrastructure in the improved parks. The CPI has $280 million available for longer-term capital improvements, such as full redesign and reconstruction, to 67 more parks.
“In a city like New York, our parks are places for our children to learn, exercise, and play – and we’re bringing improvements to parks across the five boroughs. Every parent knows the value of having a local park where their children can safely play when school is out – and with these targeted parks improvements, we’re improving the quality of life for New Yorkers throughout our city. Since launching last year, the Community Parks Initiative has brought new activities, better play spaces and more greenery to thousands of New Yorkers in every borough,” said de Blasio.
The plan targeted 55 neighborhoods across the five boroughs, hoping to reach approximately 220,000 New Yorkers living within a 10-minute walk of these parks. Brooklyn had 11 parks improved, the second-highest number of parks after Manhattan and The Bronx tied, which tied at 17.
The neighborhood of Bushwick had three parks improved, the highest number in Brooklyn, including Bushwick Playground, Fermi Playground, and Garden Playground. In Bensonhurst, Lafayette Playground and Garibaldi Playground were improved. Other parks include Lafayette Gardens Playground in Clinton Hill, Dodger Playground in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Fish Playground in Ocean Hill, South Pacific Playground in Weeksville, Bartlett Playground in Williamsburg, and Fulton Street Greenstreets in Brooklyn Heights.
The parks now feature new basketball hoops and sports surfacing for safer play. Handball courts were re-painted. Fountains, benches, and sports equipment were repaired. Comfort stations were upgraded. Greenery was planted around the parks to complete their new look.
“Targeted improvements have enhanced these treasured community spaces so neighbors would feel welcomed and proud, and engage their parks and playgrounds,” said Silver. “As we move forward with the Community Parks Initiative, we will soon announce more sites for targeted improvements, capital improvements and enhanced public programming.”
