Legacy Park at the Pomonok Houses in Flushing was officially reopened on Wednesday, Sept. 14, following a $3 million renovation.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined city officials and community leaders to cut the ribbon and welcome visitors back to the park, which became the first of three NYCHA developments in Queens to have open spaces renovated under a new pilot program announced by the Adams administration. The initiative will also bring upgrades to public spaces at the Sotomayor and Watson Houses in the Bronx and Kingsborough Houses in Brooklyn.
The initiative is paying for improved recreational space at six NYCHA developments, including Pomonok, Woodside and Redfern in #Queens. This will help us address the long-standing inequities in park access that many of our communities have experienced. pic.twitter.com/WKA5E8Get6
— Queens Borough President Donovan Richards (@QnsBPRichards) September 15, 2022
“This will help reduce inequality and pave the way for more rewarding recreational experiences for all,” Richards said. “This is a major step forward for Pomonok Houses and other NYCHA developments that are part of this initiative, and represents a significant effort on the part of Mayor Adams and his administration to overcome the historic underinvestment that contributes to inequality in our city.”
Legacy Field now features new fitness and play equipment, seating and landscaping.
“I am thrilled for the residents of the Pomonok Houses, whom I’m sure will greatly appreciate this $3 million investment,” Councilman James Gennaro said. “Over the last two years, COVID-19 has made it difficult for New Yorkers to focus on physical fitness and community interactions, so I’m excited these projects across the city focus on just that.”
A $9.3 million renovation project is currently underway at the Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway which will reconstruct the playground and upgrade the ballfield, basketball court and handball court. The project will include new fitness equipment for teens and adults and it will feature a new grilling area.
“At a time when our youth are spending too much time in front of the television, on their phones or playing video games, it’s critically important to have open outdoor spaces for play and recreation,” state Senator James Sanders said. “I am glad the city is bringing such amenities to the Redfern Houses, which is in my district, and to other locations around the city. Hopefully, this will increase the health and wellness of our residents as well as reduce crime rates by giving our young people a productive way to spend their time, one that will hopefully increase their appreciation of their community, help them learn a new sport and forge new friendships with their neighbors.”
A $1.2 million renovation is also underway at the Woodside Houses that will upgrade a passive seating and landscaped area with new game tables, benches, landscaping and pathways.
“The new project by NYCHA and NYC Parks will provide more New Yorkers access to parks through their ‘Walk to the Park Initiative,’” said Councilman Shekar Krishnan, the chairman of the Committee on Parks and Recreation. “Access to parks and playgrounds is directly connected to access to housing, a fundamental right affecting everything else in our lives. This is a crucial step forward in the past to better public housing and expanding green space for our most vulnerable communities.”
