City Parks Department Acting Queens Borough Commissioner Jackie Langsam joined Councilwoman Sandra Ung, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and members of the community to officially break ground on the $6.6 million Maple Playground reconstruction project in Flushing on Monday, Dec. 12.
Langsam said the Parks Department is excited to break ground on renovations that will transform Maple Playground in downtown Flushing.
“The new design will ensure that there are different types of play space for the diverse park users, from the proposed play equipment to ping pong tables. We are grateful to Council member Ung and Borough President Richards for their support of this project, and we look forward to inviting everyone back to play in the new playground once complete,” Langsam said.
The Maple Playground project will enlarge and relocate the children’s play area to the shaded east side of the park, which will include new play equipment and swings for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, a water play area and seating. The existing drainage system will be fully reconstructed to eliminate ponding issues that currently plague the playground area. The southern portion of the park will include reconstruction of the basketball court with new color seal coat and installation of three new ping-pong tables.
The $6.6 million Maple Playground Reconstruction Project was funded with $3.5 million from the City Council and $3.1 million from the Queens borough president’s office.
“Maple Playground is an incredibly popular gathering spot,” Ung said. “On any given day, it is bustling with seniors playing mahjong, families relaxing with their children, and residents just looking for a little open space in this densely packed neighborhood in the heart of Flushing. I look forward to the day when it reopens and residents can enjoy this renovated open space and all of its new amenities.”
Richards said improving and expanding open space in Queens is a top priority for him, along with his colleagues like Ung and the Parks Department.
“Our playgrounds and parks are the backbones of our neighborhoods, but many of our communities lack the modern, high-quality open spaces that families who need them deserve. With this $6.6 million reconstruction of Maple Playground, Flushing families will have one of those state-of-the-art spaces to call their own,” Richards said. “I look forward to many more groundbreakings with all our partners in the years to come.”
