A new recreation center opened in East Flatbush on Monday, the first city Parks Department center to be built in over a decade.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated the opening of the brand-new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, the largest recreation center in Brooklyn. The center, located at 3002 Foster Ave., is expected to serve residents of East Flatbush and Midwood, with over 41,000 New Yorkers living within a 15-minute walk or transit ride of the new center, according to city officials.
The approximately 74,000-square-foot center provides space for swimming, team sports, exercise and educational programming. Like all recreation centers run by the Parks Department, discounts are available for New Yorkers of all ages, and membership is entirely free for people 24 years and younger.
“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center will soon be alive with possibility — kids learning to swim, cook and grow their own food; friends coming together on the court; neighbors of every generation creating and connecting, from the gym to the podcast studio. This will be a space where the city meets itself, built to serve the people who call it home,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Shirley Chisholm believed that politics should be accountable to everyday people. In that spirit, this center will stand as a living tribute to her legacy — proving that when we invest in truly affordable, accessible public spaces, we can build a city that works for all of us.”
The center will fully open to the public on Feb. 10. For the first week, all New Yorkers will have the opportunity to use the brand-new center for one free day of their choosing, prior to becoming members. Parks is also hosting guided tours, registration events and demonstrations.
The center includes:
- Competition-sized 6 lane pool, including a ramp, chairlift, and stairs so all visitors can comfortably enter the water regardless of ability
- Three lane walking track
- Competition-sized gym perfect for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball
- Exercise rooms for cardio workouts, weightlifting, and spin classes.
The center also features spaces for events, classes, and relaxation, including:
- Teaching kitchen
- Afterschool space with its own outdoor play area
- Dedicated teens-only space with supervision
- Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Media Lab with a mixing room for A/V production
- Multipurpose rooms for events and classes.
The mayor was joined by NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Council Member Farah Louis for the ribbon cutting.
