Press Release
May 17, 2018
New York State Announces Construction to Begin on Vital Brooklyn's First Student-Designed Playground
New Green Infrastructure Will Capture One Million Gallons of Stormwater Annually to Mitigate Flooding and Improve Health of Jamaica Bay
"The construction of this playground is an exciting milestone for the Vital Brooklyn initiative that will provide Brooklynites with much needed open space and recreational facilities," Governor Cuomo said. "By utilizing green infrastructure and student input to build this playground, we are ensuring that it will meet the needs of the community it serves for generations to come."
Today, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner, Rose Harvey; New York State Assemblyman, Nick Perry; NYC Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Vincent Sapienza; The Trust for Public Land CEO, Diane Regas; New York Road Runners President & CEO Michael Capiraso and President of Events and Race Director Peter Ciaccia, and I.S. 598 Principal, Jameela Horton-Ball, joined Winthrop School students and faculty to celebrate the construction of the community playground, set to be completed this fall.
State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said, "These community gathering areas strengthen mind, muscle and soul and build social bonds. Thank you Governor Cuomo, Assembly member Nick Perry, New York City, The Trust for Public Land and New York Road Runners and all of our partners for your tireless advocacy in the pursuit of healthy, active outdoor recreation for all. Special thanks to all the students as your design is engaging, fun and inspires us all to get outside."
Senator Jesse Hamilton said, "Playgrounds, community gardens, parks, and open spaces represent a key part of quality of life in our communities. Thanks to Governor Cuomo, working in partnership with colleagues and neighborhood residents, we are addressing significant needs that are critical to our wellness. I welcome this first playground and look forward to Vital Brooklyn's holistic approach meaning healthier communities for all our families, friends, and neighbors."
Assemblyman Nick Perry, Chair, Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus said, "With today's groundbreaking the ambitious Vital Brooklyn Initiative begins to come to fruition, and show tangible results which will benefit the families of our community. It will be particularly satisfying, later this year, to come back to visit the school and join the children in using the beautiful outdoor space which they had a hand in designing. I salute Governor Cuomo, the Trust for Public Land, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Principal Horton-Bell and all others who helped make this extraordinary day possible.
Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel said, "Thank you Governor Cuomo, State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey and all of the partners for engaging a discussion and implementing immediate action that will benefit the wellness of our Brooklyn community. Far too long our neighborhoods have fallen in disrepair and have been forgotten. Through Governor Cuomo's Vital Brooklyn Initiative we are rising and reaching new heights like never before. I am especially excited about the new and critical open space for our communities. Thank you especially to our students for your inspiring playground design as it is sure to be one of the many centerpieces for all to gather and celebrate our close knit and family oriented community."
The Trust for Public Land CEO Diane Regas said, "The Trust for Public Land's New York City playgrounds program has helped create vibrant community recreational spaces and a more equitable city for decades, and this new playground will offer The Winthrop Campus and its neighbors with a new outdoor recreation area that will improve education and also make the environment better. We believe that parks and open space are critical infrastructure that keep communities healthy, and are an important part of the comprehensive Vital Brooklyn Initiative."
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said, "DEP is a proud partner of The Trust for Public Land's Playground Program, which is transforming asphalt playgrounds across the City into new green spaces for the whole community. The green infrastructure that will be installed at this playground will help to reduce stormwater runoff, improve the health of the surrounding waterways, and beautify the neighborhood."
President and CEO at New York Road Runners Michael Capiraso said, "We are so excited about today's groundbreaking as it marks the first of four new sites beginning construction through New York Road Runners' second year of partnership with The Trust for Public Land. In just a few short months the students and Rising New York Road Runners at I.S. 598, as well as the entire East Flatbush community will have an amazing new outdoor space designed by the students that will look great and motivate kids in a fun way to run and be active."
Announced in March 2017, Governor Cuomo's $1.4 billion Vital Brooklyn initiative seeks to transform the Central Brooklyn region by identifying and investing in eight integrated areas that will help to establish a national paradigm for addressing chronic disparities, such as systemic violence and entrenched poverty in high-need communities. The comprehensive plan targets increased access to open spaces and recreation, including $10.6 million to transform eight schoolyards into community playgrounds and open space, $3.1 million to transform nearly two dozen community gardens, and $1.8 million to enhance four recreation centers across Central Brooklyn.
Today's groundbreaking is also part of The Trust for Public Land's Playgrounds Program, which serves to create vibrant, educational, and fun playgrounds for New York City's schoolchildren. All The Trust for Public Land playgrounds include student participation in the design process, providing them with hands-on learning of the science, math, and architecture that goes into designing playgrounds, while giving them an opportunity to voice their thoughts on what is needed in their school's playground. Students at The Winthrop Campus, as well as parents and neighbors, got the chance to contribute to the playground design process. For more information on The Trust for Public Land, visit their website here.
This playground is made possible through a partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the New York City Departments of Environmental Protection and Education, the New York City School Construction Authority, and New York Road Runners.
Green infrastructure design elements, made possible in part through a partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, are a hallmark of The Trust for Public Land's playground work. These features reduce stormwater runoff that can flood streets and overwhelm sewer systems, allowing untreated water to end up in rivers and bays. These infrastructure elements include a turf field designed to absorb stormwater, trees, pervious pavers, and other green infrastructure elements, which can capture up to an inch of rainwater during storm events, adding up to over one million gallons per year. The trees will also provide shade and improve air quality, making the city more resilient on hot summer days and promoting residents' health.