City Breaks Ground On Making Improvements In East Elmhurst
Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Member Julissa Ferreras, Community Board 3 District Manager Giovanna Reid, P.S. 127 Principal Evita Sanabria and neighborhood residents last Thursday, Mar. 15, to break ground on $2 million in renovations at P.S. 127/East Elmhurst Playground.
“One of our core goals is providing opportunities for New York City’s residents to live a healthier and more active lifestyle,” said Benepe. “Thanks to Council Member Julissa Ferreras’ funding allocation, we will be reconstructing the park’s ballfield, basketball courts, and sitting area, as well as creating a new toddlers’ playground and a skating area. These renovations will create recreational opportunities for East Elmhurst residents of all ages, whether young or young-at-heart.”
“It gives me great pleasure to be able to fund the renovation of East Elmhurst playground,” said Ferreras. “As part of our ‘Healthy Community Initiative’ the new park will house a new ball field, basketball courts, a small workout/exercise area, new tennis courts, a skating area and a brand new playground for the younger children. Funding projects like this is key to creating healthier communities. East Elmhurst playground has a history of being home to amazing events such as Family Day, future NBA players, and some of the best local baseball in Queens. I am working with the Parks Department on a variety of projects that will continue to bring much needed resources to the communities of the 21st District.”
“We are thrilled with the generous grant from Councilwoman Ferreras, which will go to upgrading the P.S. 127 playground,” said Department of Education Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm. “At this time, when so many children face obesity, the upgrades to the playground will give our students and neighborhood residents a convenient place to keep active outdoors and exercise regularly to help improve their overall wellbeing.”
Through a $2 million capital allocation from Ferreras, the Parks Department broke ground on the first phase of reconstruction of this playground. The renovations will include a reconstructed ballfield with improved drainage and a handicappedaccessible dugout, a new color seal coating that will improve the durability and appearance of the existing basketball courts, a toddlers’ playground, a custom-built concrete skate area, and a rebuilt sitting area with additional seating and new planting beds.
The reconstruction will also incorporate sustainable elements, with pavers that direct rainwater into the park’s planting beds. Ferreras has also allocated an additional $1.3 million for the second phase of renovations to this park. This next phase, currently being designed, will include improvements to the existing playground and spray shower.
P.S. 127/East Elmhurst Playground was originally created under a neighborhood playground development program implemented by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. The land was acquired by the City of New York on Feb. 15, 1956.
The playground, which is jointly operated by Parks and the Department of Education, opened to the public on Mar. 19, 1957 with the standard playground equipment of the time: monkey bars, slides, and seesaws.
