Junction Playground

NYC PARKS CELEBRATES $1.75 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS TO JUNCTION PLAYGROUND

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, today joined Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland to cut the ribbon on a $1.75 million renovation of Junction Playground.

“Junction Playground is a place where kids can go to play, cool off, and enjoy the summer,” said Commissioner Silver. “Now, with a new spray shower, reconstructed handball and basketball courts, and an enhanced playground, there’s even more to enjoy. We’re so thankful to Council Member Ferreras-Copeland for always supporting the parks and open spaces of Queens, and for recognizing the role that they play in our quality of life.”

“Junction Playground is one of the most used parks in our community,” said Council Member Ferreras-Copeland. “It is a crucial park for kids during the summer when it’s hot and they’re looking for a place to cool off. It’s an asset for families that do not have backyards. And it’s a community meeting ground for programming and for moms to meet. I thank the Department of Parks and Commissioner Silver for working with me to make the most out of our scarce green spaces and enabling residents to lead healthier lifestyles.”

The comprehensive reconstruction of Junction Playground included improvements to the handball and basketball courts, playground equipment and swings, spray shower, entrance plazas, landscape areas, perimeter walls, entrance staircases, fences, and sidewalks surrounding the park.

Outdated and heavily used play equipment was replaced with new colorful equipment that addresses the needs of various ages and abilities, while promoting fitness. Seating opportunities for caretakers are provided in the play equipment areas.

The spray shower is redesigned as a fully accessible amenity, with a variety of spray feature types and colorful ground surfaces. The spray shower is activated manually by kids on site, and is set on a seven-minute timer so that no water is wasted.

The amount of asphalt pavement in the park was significantly reduced, and replaced by decorative modular pavers. Comfortable and elegant bench seating was provided at all three site entrances for everyone’s enjoyment, where no sitting opportunities formerly existed. Landscaped areas within the park and tree pits on the sidewalk were considerably expanded to improve plant health and environmental quality of the site.

The project was funded with $1.4m from Council Member Ferreras-Copeland and $350,000 from the Borough President’s Office. The project began in April 2016 and was completed in June 2017.

Throughout Queens’ 7,700 acres of parkland, NYC Parks is working to improve and update open spaces for the health and well-being of New Yorkers. Currently, there are 75 capital projects in various stages of completion, including 9 neighborhood parks being reconstructed under the Community Parks Initiative.