Three Brooklyn playgrounds will be upgraded through a $50 million investment from the city.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura on Thursday announced $50 million in new capital investments in 10 parks through the Community Parks Initiative for fiscal ye
In Brooklyn, Van Dyke Playground in Brownsville, Roebling Playground in South Williamsburg and Elizabeth Stroud Playground in Bedford–Stuyvesant were selected for the revamp.
“For many New Yorkers, the park is their backyard — a place where they can play a game of pick-up basketball, hold a picnic on the grass or kick a ball with their kids. These New Yorkers know the difference between a park in disarray and a park that city government has invested in,” Mamdani said.
Through CPI, local parks are reconstructed through a community-driven design process that upgrades sites, adds new play equipment and recreation amenities for all ages and enhances green space.
Over the past decade, NYC Parks has reconstructed 70 CPI projects in neighborhood parks citywide and currently has another 47 projects underway.
“All New Yorkers deserve access to clean, safe and high-quality parks — and throu
Officials also noted the investment comes alongside a new study by researchers at the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH). According to findings from the recent Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces study, residents in neighborhoods that received CPI park renovations reported:
- More time spent in parks, particularly on weekdays and among adults with children and members of the Latino community.
- Significant increases in satisfaction with park quality, maintenance and amenities.
- Reduced stress levels among residents who frequently used renovated parks, suggesting that high-quality parks are a key condition for realizing the mental health benefits of regular park use.
