Grand Street Settlement celebrated the opening of the Sunset Park West Child and Family Center on Feb. 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by U.S. Representative Dan Goldman, state Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Council Member Alexa Avilés, community partners and neighborhood families.
The new facility at 411 52nd St. marks the organization’s third Head Start program launched in Sunset Park over the past five years, reflecting a broader push to expand access to early childhood education in high-need areas of Brooklyn.
Founded more than 110 years ago, Grand Street Settlement is a historic social services organization that provides a wide range of programs to families across the Lower East Side, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
“Grand Street is proud to be opening our third state-of-the-art Child and Family Center in Sunset Park,” said Grand Street Settlement Chief Executive Officer Robert Cordero. “We’ve had a growing wait list for our other Sunset Park programs since they opened in 2021. Working families are facing a child care crisis and Grand Street is proud to provide the high-quality care that our neighbors rely on.”
Its continued investment in Sunset Park comes in response to growing demand for affordable, high-quality child care among working families in the neighborhood.
Leaders noted that existing Grand St. Settlement Head Start programs in Sunset Park have maintained long waitlists since opening in 2021, signaling a clear need for additional seats and services.
The Sunset Park West Child and Family Center will serve 96 children and their families while employing approximately 30 early childhood educators and support staff. The site was developed as part of a larger Head Start expansion effort aimed at increasing educational access and strengthening family supports in underserved communities.
In addition to classroom instruction focused on early learning and school readiness, the center will provide comprehensive services that promote health and wellness, family stability and community engagement.
Sunset Park has been identified as a child care desert, with recent data from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services showing that some neighborhoods have far more young children than available licensed child care slots.
The facility is also expected to help parents remain in the workforce while ensuring their children have access to structured early learning environments.
Elected officials and local advocates highlighted the importance of investing in culturally responsive, community-based programs that reflect the diversity of Sunset Park.
