The Public Housing Community Fund and the New York City Housing Authority unveiled two redesigned outdoor community spaces at Roosevelt Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant on June 25, following a collaborative effort with the Design Trust for Public Space, the Center for Justice Innovation, Unfrastructure and KCD Construction Corp.
The improvements were designed in response to resident feedback and transformed previously underused areas into spaces for recreation, relaxation and community gatherings.
Located next to residential buildings, the two outdoor spaces include new seating, landscaped greenery, shaded areas, game tables, a flexible play space, a community garden and additional areas for gathering and quiet reflection.
“These new community spaces bring vibrancy and connectivity to the Roosevelt Houses, providing residents with the recreational opportunities that they truly deserve,” said Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “The designs responded directly to residents' needs, allowing PHCF and our partners to deliver spaces with community impact, not just aesthetically pleasing upgrades. We look forward to continuing this work through Green Space Connections, helping improve the well-being of NYCHA campuses, and building projects that positively impact resident health and the nature that surrounds them.”
The project is part of Green Space Connections, a $3.2 million initiative funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust to improve open spaces at four NYCHA developments in Brooklyn and the Bronx, serving about 14,000 residents.
The project is intended to address concerns residents identified about the condition and usability of outdoor areas. Before construction, surveys found that while many residents used the spaces daily, satisfaction with amenities, physical conditions and safety remained low.
Fewer than one-third of respondents believed the spaces met their intended purpose and fewer than one in five were satisfied with the quality of available amenities.
The redesign adds seating, shade, greenery and recreational features that residents identified as priorities, with the goal of encouraging community interaction, supporting wellness and strengthening neighborhood pride.
More than 600 residents participated in shaping the project through surveys, voting and workshops during a yearlong participatory design process. Working with community engagement specialists and design professionals, residents helped determine the final layout and amenities.
The Roosevelt Houses project is part of NYCHA's Connected Communities program, which focuses on improving public housing open spaces through public-private partnerships and resident-led planning.
Similar Green Space Connections projects at Castle Hill and Patterson Houses in the Bronx have reported increased daily use, stronger social connections and a greater sense of ownership among residents.
