This week, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials gathered together to break ground on the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush.
Anticipated to open by the end of 2025, the 26,000 square-foot recreation center is expected to provide recreational activities and learning opportunities for the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Once built, the Shirley Chrisholm Recreation Center will feature a gymnasium; a walking track; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; a media lab; as well as a commercial teaching kitchen.
The recreation center is named after Shirley Chisholm, the late congresswoman and presidential candidate from Brooklyn who was the first Black woman ever elected to Congress.
"Shirley Chisholm inspired millions of young girls to pursue dreams they never thought possible,” said Mayor Adams.
“And when the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center opens, her name will once again inspire another generation, while providing the residents of East Flatbush with a state-of-the-art recreational center that honors the rich history and heritage of this vibrant community."
The $141 million project is part of the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s (DDC) design-build pilot program, an innovative initiative that allows construction to commence before the final design is locked in.
Through this method, projects can reportedly be completed a full two years quicker than would be expected under more traditional contracting systems, according to a release.
“This project is not only a monument to the famed civil rights leader Shirley Chisholm, it also represents a milestone in city construction as we continue to implement design-build in our capital program,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley.
“The design-build method involves contracting teams’ designers and builders together as one unit, leading to fewer delays and conflicts, better problem solving, and faster and more efficient projects.”
Members of the community are invited to attend an interactive preview of the new recreation center at Evangelical Christian Crusade Church on Oct. 24, 2023. To register for the event, click here.
