A long-underused stretch of open space at Marlboro Houses in Gravesend is set for a major transformation through a $500,000 redevelopment project focused on sustainability, accessibility and community life.
The project broke ground Monday as part of Green Space Connections, a $3.2 million initiative aimed at improving resident-designed outdoor spaces across NYCHA campuses.
Plans for the space include new walking pathways, sensory and play features, rain gardens and ecological landscaping intended to reduce frequent stormwater flooding while creating more welcoming gathering areas for residents of all ages.
“At its core, Green Space Connections serves the joint purpose of empowering NYCHA residents to take ownership of their open space while also making campuses greener and more functional and welcoming,” said Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund.
At the center of the redesign is a continuous pathway made from Corkeen, a permeable surface created from recycled cork. The installation marks the first time the New York-based Cork Collective has used the material in a public community space.
The cork was collected from nearly 40 restaurants and repurposed into a softer, cooler and more environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional playground and walkway materials.
Residents helped shape the redesign through workshops and planning sessions that identified the need for safer, more functional green spaces that better support daily community life.
Plans also include interactive art and play structures designed to encourage gathering, exercise, performance and relaxation throughout the campus. The features are intended to create flexible spaces that residents of different ages can use in different ways.
“Green spaces are important for the health, well-being and cohesion of our communities,” said Lisa Bova-Hiatt, NYCHA chief executive officer.
More than 7,000 square feet of open space across two lawn areas near Buildings 2 and 16 will be renovated as part of the project.
Marlboro Houses is one of four NYCHA developments participating in Green Space Connections alongside Patterson houses, Roosevelt houses and Castle Hill houses, where similar upgrades are already completed or underway.
