Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
The Arverne, Queens community is receiving a renovated playground so they can use it for years to come. On August 12, 2022, NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Mike Dockett, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assembly Member Khaleel M. Anderson, Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, representatives from Queens Community Board 14, and community members gathered for an official groundbreaking ceremony to mark the commencement on the $5 million renovation of Beach 59th Street Playground in Arverne section of Queens.
The playground will be completely renovated, with a nautical-theme to provide children and families of the Arverne community with a welcoming place to congregate and play. The renovated space will reconstruct the children’s play area, and add a new spray play area, drinking fountain, benches, game tables, security lighting and plantings. Other new additions include: a shade structure to provide much needed shade for park visitors, an accessible ramp at the Beach 60th entrance, and swings of various sizes to accommodate visitors of all ages.
“I’m thrilled to help break ground on the Beach 59th Street Playground renovation, a project I’m proud to have funded in my time as the local City Council member,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This new and improved playground will offer our children and families in Arverne a better space to play and enjoy their community. I’m grateful to the Friends of Beach 59th Street Playground Association for their advocacy and our city partners for their work to get this project off the ground, and I can’t wait to celebrate the playground’s reopening once completed.”
The Friends of 59 Street Playground Association, the group who envisioned this project to bring equitable recreation to their community, worked with government partners to bring the renovation to life. The project was made possible with $2.94 million from the Office of the Borough President, and $2 million from City Council.
Local Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers shared, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, our parks offered vital open spaces for families, children, and neighbors to convene and commune with each other. This $5 million investment of Beach 59th Street playground ensures Council District 31 families can continue to use the playground for years to come. This new construction will revitalize the entire community with an upgraded spray area, drinking fountain, and new play equipment for children to play right near the beach.”
By: Samantha Silverstein (Samantha is a CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2024.)
You should include the name of the landscape architecture firm who designed the playground, or the DPR in-house design team. Believe it or not, they spend a lot more time on projects like these than anyone else who is credited!
(I don’t know who it is, or I would have included it!)