Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
The improvements to Faber Park provide a more open and welcoming experience and assists in the Department of Parks and Recreation’s goal to create a more equitable park system. On April 22, 2021, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Silver announced the completion of improvements to Faber Park in the Richmond Terrace neighborhood in Staten Island. Funded by Mayor de Blasio and Council Member Deborah Rose, the improvements to Faber Park come as a part of the 800 capital projects completed under Commissioner Silver to establish a more equitable park system in New York City.
The new renovations improved many aspects of Faber Park. The improvements include lowered fencing and wider entrances. These aspects change the aesthetics of the park and make it appear more open and inviting. The park improvements also included new pathing, universally accessible play areas, a multi-use oval plaza, and an amphitheater located in the oval plaza. Spray elements were also included in the amphitheater for better cooling. There is also now ADA-compliant pedestrian access from Richmond Terrace to the nearby pool.
The Faber Park improvements come as a part of the Parks without Borders Initiative. This initiative, which is also a part of OneNYC, was initially announced in November of 2015. The initiative was spawned from a call for community involvement. Parks Without Borders projects come from nominations made to the Department of Parks and Recreations. Nominations were performed through an online survey and 37 conferences with citizens. Over 6,000 nominations were received that nominated 691 parks. Eight parks were selected for the program which all share $40 million in funding from Mayor de Blasio.
The eight projects include: Fort Greene Park; Prospect Park; Van Cortlandt Park; Hugh Grant Circle / Virginia Park and Playground; Jackie Robinson Park; Seward Park; Flushing Meadows Corona Park; and Faber Park.
Commissioner Silver stated, “As Commissioner I’ve prioritized working to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality parks, and it’s outstanding to see these underused spaces transformed into community assets. Thanks to Mayor de Blasio and Council Member Rose’s investment, this beautiful waterfront gem will now serve as a more accessible and inviting resource for the children, families, and residents of North Shore.”
Council Member Deborah Rose stated, “With the completion of this Parks Without Borders project, we are opening up a new space that is welcoming and draws the surrounding community in. This Faber Park improvement is a significant investment not just in physical space here, but in the lives of the children and adults who will enjoy the space — today, tomorrow and for generations to come.”
By: Patrick McNeill (Patrick is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2022.)