Chappetto Square

NYC PARKS CUTS THE RIBBON ON $4.5 MILLION RENOVATION OF CHAPPETTO SQUARE — A COMMUNITY PARKS INITIATIVE SITE

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP today joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, City Council Member Costa Constantinides, and Queens Community Board 1 Chair Marie Torniali to cut the ribbon on the total reconstruction of Chappetto Square through the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) — the City’s first-ever parks equity initiative. The project was funded by a $4.5 million allocation from Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“With these new upgrades, Chappetto Square is now better equipped to meet Astoria’s recreational needs,” said Commissioner Silver. “I’m thrilled to unveil these new amenities that will serve the children, families, and residents of the surrounding communities for years to come. Thanks to Mayor de Blasio’s tremendous investment, we’ve provided Queens’ residents with even more greenspace to safely gather, exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.”

“The reconstruction of Chappetto Square has transformed this space into a first-class neighborhood park that will serve the entire Astoria community,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “With the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully in our rear view mirror, folks are beginning to re-discover their communities, and there is no better place for Astoria residents to start their re-discovery than by visiting this wonderful gem of a park. Peter Chappetto, the fallen World War II service member for whom Chappetto Square is named, would be proud to know that his old neighborhood has such a fine park.”

“Chappetto Square has long been a popular but underfunded space, but now we have a park worthy of the diverse community that uses it,” said Council Member Costa Constantinides. “As the weather warms and people seek safe activities and recreation, beautiful spaces like reimagined Chappetto Square are vital. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Silver for their support for this park through the Community Parks Initiative.”

As part of the Community Parks Initiative, Chappetto Square has been completely renovated with upgraded features and amenities. This community greenspace now features four new seal-coated ecuavoley courts, drinking fountains with bottle fillers, asphalt pathways, and enhanced landscaping. The new and improved Chappetto Square supports both passive and active recreation with the installation of new shaded seating areas, game tables, and pedestrian lighting.

The Community Parks Initiative (CPI), launched by Mayor de Blasio in October 2014, is NYC Parks’ first major equity initiative. CPI is a multi-faceted investment in the smaller public parks that are located in New York City’s densely populated and growing neighborhoods where there are higher-than-average concentrations of poverty.

Chappetto Square honors the memory of Peter Chappetto, an Astoria resident who was killed in action during World War II. When Robert Moses took control of the Triborough Bridge Authority in 1934, he had envisioned a series of parks with play facilities and landscaping surrounding the bridge approaches. This square is just one of the seven that constituted the Triborough Bridge Playgrounds. The remaining six parks and playgrounds on Hoyt Avenue North and Hoyt Avenue South, between 21st and 26th streets, continue to be known as the Triborough Bridge Playgrounds.