The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) celebrated the grand opening of a new student-designed green playground in Queens.
Newly installed green infrastructure within the playground will capture 655,000 gallons of stormwater each year—reducing flooding and helping to improve the health of the nearby Bowery Bay, which is connected to the Upper East River and Long Island Sound. The state-of-the-art schoolyard will be open to the community during non-school hours and will serve nearly 18,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of home.
Green infrastructure design elements, including permeable pavers, a synthetic turf field, and specifically chosen plantings and trees, were made possible in part through DEP’s contribution of $411,000 and are a hallmark of The Trust for Public Land’s playground work. The green infrastructure is intended to help reduce sewer overflows. Each playground absorbs hundreds of thousands of gallons of water annually and includes new trees that bring shade and better air quality to their neighborhoods.
“During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers have recognized that parks and playgrounds are essential for mental and physical well-being,” said Carter Strickland, New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land. “This schoolyard has a new outdoor classroom so that students have the opportunity to safely study while connecting with classmates, and after school hours, it will be a critical community hub. We are grateful to DEP, Con Edison, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and former Councilmember Costa Constantinides for their partnership in making this schoolyard a reality.”
The schoolyard was designed using The Trust for Public Land (TPL)’s participatory design process with teachers and students and will include a include turf field, running track, play equipment, fitness equipment, turf pod, bleachers, water fountain, benches and game tables, trees, outdoor classroom and garden.
Under the NYC Park Equity Plan, TPL is planning to build 100 more in neighborhoods that have crowded parks. Nationwide, the Trust for Public Land has transformed more than 300 underused schoolyards into green parks. Every one of their green schoolyard transformations includes agreements between a school district and other local agencies to allow the community to use the space when school is closed.
This project was also made possible with support and funding from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and former Council Member Costa Constantinides.
