Astoria Health Playground Renovation Renderings (NYC Parks Department)
March 24, 2019 By Meghan Sackman
The reconstruction of an unloved park on 14th Street is nearly complete.
Astoria Health Playground, a small park located at 31-25 14th St., has been undergoing a $2.9 million revamp over the past year, with the work expected to be complete in April, according to a Parks Dept. spokesperson.
The overhaul includes new playground equipment, swings, water play features and a seating area. The old half-basketball court is being replaced and moved to a new area within the ¼-acre park.
The Parks Department said the half court is being moved from the front of the park to the rear and that it will be using the front of the park for seating. The existing high fence at the front of the park, which was used to keep the basketballs inside, is being lowered.
The front fence will also be moved closer to the property line to increase the size of the park. By doing so, the trees adjacent to the sidewalk will become part of the park and be enclosed by the front fence. The sidewalk by the entrance is also being replaced.
The park has undergone the overhaul as part of the Mayor’s $318 million Community Parks Initiative. The initiative, which was launched in 2014 smaller, aims to upgrade 67 parks citywide that are located in low-income areas and that have received minimal improvements in the past 20 years.
Astoria Health Playground in December 2017 (Google)
