By Bill Parry
The Van Alst Playground reopened to the public Tuesday after a $3.5 million renovation was completed ahead of schedule.
City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver joined City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) and community leaders to cut the ribbon at the park, which became the first neighborhood playground to be fully reconstructed under the city’s Community Parks Initiative program that aims to upgrade parks in underserved areas.
“When I started as Parks commissioner, the mayor tasked me with creating a fair and balanced park system for our city,” Silver said. “It is a great occasion to cut the ribbon on the first of many park improvements coming to high-needs neighborhoods, where open space plays a critical role in community development.”
The multi-purpose area was transformed from a cracked asphalt lot into a colorful, well-structured space for sports, including basketball, soccer and track. Van Alst Playground is one of the first 35 sites that was announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio in October 2014 to receive funding for reconstruction under CPI. The location is shared by PS 171, which abuts the park at 14-14 29th Ave.
“Improving our parks help improve entire neighborhoods,” Constantinides said. “Families near Van Alst Playground and PS 171 students will soon be able to enjoy a renovated greenspace. A new multi-purpose space for sports, new play equipment, renovated handball courts, and an upgraded spray shower will enhance the recreational experience for children and parents. The green infrastructure improvements and lighting updates bring environmental and safety benefits.”
The design for the project was based on community input gathered at a public scoping meeting in December 2014. The goal of the project was to improve the playground’s interface with the surrounding neighborhood, expand active and passive recreation opportunities for all age groups and ability levels, and improve environmental quality and nighttime surveillance.
The project was funded with $3 million allocated by the mayor through the CPI program, as well as nearly $500,000 from the Department of Environmental Protection for the green infrastructure improvements that were incorporated into the design.
“DEP is proud to partner in NYC Parks’ Community Parks Initiative, which is transforming neighborhood parks across the city,” DEP Commissioner Vincent Spazienza said. “The newly installed green infrastructure at this playground will help reduce stormwater runoff, improve the health of the surrounding waterways, and beautify the neighborhood.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
