By Bill Parry
The Dutch Kills Playground, is set for a $4.5 million reconstruction.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) and Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski unveiled designs for the project Tuesday that includes upgraded play equipment, play spaces and safety surfacing for both younger and older children, as well as a shaded adult seating area and renovated bathrooms. The renovations will also include new landscaping to increase the amount of green space in the park. The community was able to brainstorm and suggest design elements at a public scoping meeting in April.
Dutch Kills Playground, located on Crescent Street between 37th and 36th avenues, is used every day by students from PS 112, IS 204, and the Baccalaureate School for Global Education. It is also a community hub, with children, adults, and seniors frequenting the park’s play areas and sports facilities. The Dutch Kills Playground has not undergone major updates in almost 20 years.
“This park is a hub of the Dutch Kills Community,” Van Bramer said. “Our children come to this playground every day, and they deserve a modern, up-to-date park to use during recess, gym class, and with their families and neighbors on the weekends. I’m thrilled to have allocated this funding and to unveil the designs for our new park today. Our parks and public spaces are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, and I’m proud that now Dutch Kills can have the modern, up-to-date park our community deserves.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
