Kelly Park Playground

The $10 million renovation installed play equipment for ages and abilities, plus interactive features to engage young imaginations and inspire collaborative play

Today, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined New York State Senator Simcha Felder and members of the community to celebrate the transformation of Kelly Park Playground, following approximately $10 million in ADA accessible improvements that have created a beautiful and rejuvenated play space in South Brooklyn.

The major renovation has equipped the playground with brand-new play equipment for kids of all ages and abilities, furthering Parks’ commitment to providing accessible and engaging play spaces for all. Additionally, a separate $1.6 million project reconstructed the public bathroom, ensuring New Yorkers can comfortably enjoy the public playground.

“Thanks to this transformational project, Brooklynites of all ages and abilities can enjoy a beautifully renovated play space with something for everyone, from interactive spray showers to hidden fossils waiting to be discovered,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “All New Yorkers deserve engaging and well-maintained public parks where they can meet with friends and enjoy the benefits of time outside. I’m so grateful to State Senator Simcha Felder for funding this important project and for his longstanding support for accessibility in our public spaces. I’m also grateful to Mayor Eric Adams for funding a complete renovation of the public restroom, making the park experience more comfortable for all.”

"A long time ago, I started talking to people about having a park in Brooklyn where every child, regardless of their different abilities, has a place to play, explore, and grow. Today, a little more than a decade later, I am filled with joy to celebrate the opening of Brooklyn’s only Dream Park for All Children! This $10 million investment isn’t just about creating a beautiful space. It’s about creating a sense of belonging. It’s about ensuring that every child in Brooklyn—and indeed, every child in New York City—can experience the joy of childhood, the thrill of adventure, and the warmth of community," said State Senator Simcha Felder.

Thanks to $10 million in funding by State Senator Felder, Parks has transformed Kelly Park Playground into an exciting and accessible destination for kids of all ages and abilities. Creative features—including a sandbox with “fossils” and play stations for exploring music and color—engage kids’ imaginations and inspire collaborative play. With accessible play equipment like spray showers, slides, and climbers, kids of all abilities can enjoy the newly renovated playground, and winding paths encourage kids to explore the space. As part of this project, Parks also enhanced the landscaping of the playground, with new trees, plantings, benches, and lighting creating a greener and more resilient public park.

Parks also reconstructed the public restroom at Kelly Park Playground and added accessibility features. This separate project, funded by $1.6 million from the Office of the Mayor, ensures that this vital amenity is accessible to all. Parks is the largest provider of public restrooms across the city, hosting roughly 70% of the city's public facilities within our parks. Parks is committed to enhancing restroom availability to help ensure our parks are responsive to human needs and can support sports activities, community gatherings and special events for the public.

Kelly Park Playground is named after Brooklynite William E. Kelly. Born in 1872 in Brooklyn, Kelly rose through the ranks of the Kings County post office, eventually serving as county postmaster and Clerk of Kings County before his death in 1929.