South Oxford Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, June 21, 2006

From Blight To Boon: Parks Cuts Ribbon At South Oxford Park

photo by Malcolm Pinckney

On June 19, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Council Member Letitia James, Elizabeth Ernish from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office, Fannie Dickenson from State Sentator Velmanette Montgomery’s office, Co-Chairs of the Friends of South Oxford Park Andrew Marshall and Todd Nau, and preschool children from the Hanson Place Child Development Center and the Usel Children’s Center to cut the ribbon on the brand new South Oxford Park. 

Thanks to a generous allocation of approximately $2.26 million, a new playground and garden areas have been created at this site. Council Member James allocated $1.7 million, Borough President Markowitz allocated $400,000, and Mayor Bloomberg provided another $150,000 to make this vision a reality.

"What was once derelict buildings and abandoned lots has been transformed, almost magically, into a lush and vibrant ‘town green,’" said Commissioner Benepe. "South Oxford Park will provide space for exercise, play, and peaceful contemplation of nature for children and adults. I am grateful to Council Member Letitia James, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Mayor Bloomberg for allocating the funds to turn a blight into an oasis."

The new park design includes play equipment, swings, safety surfacing, a cat-tail themed spray shower, a synthetic turf green, tennis courts, steel fences, benches, sidewalks, drinking fountains and gardens.

Parks & Recreation acquired the former South Oxford Tennis Club and its surrounding land in 1998. The derelict facility was demolished in 2001 in order to realize the community’s vision of a brand new park and increase the amount of open space in the neighborhood.

Monday’s ceremony represented a graduation as what used to be barren, abandoned land was graduated into a beautiful new park. Symbolically, the preschool children in attendance paraded into South Oxford Park and took their seats to the theme of Pomp & Circumstance.

The spray shower was put to good use immediately after the ceremony. On this 90-degree day, the children could not wait to initiate this new feature by merrily running through it. Commissioner Benepe and many others in attendance joined them.