Crispus Attucks Playground

NYC PARKS JOINS CLINTON HILL AND BED STUY COMMUNITIES FOR CEREMONIAL COURTS RENAMING IN HONOR OF LATE RAPPER CHRISTOPHER “BIGGIE” WALLACE

NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher today joined City Council Member Robert Cornegy; Assembly Member Walter Mosley; Producer, Attorney and Publisher L. Londell McMillan; Wallace’s daughter T’yanna Wallace; Lil’ Cease; Jan Jackson and local community members for an official renaming and dedication ceremony in honor of the late rapper Christopher “Biggie” Wallace at Crispus Attucks Playground. The playground has been newly renovated and the basketball courts have received new signage designating them as the Christopher “Biggie” Wallace Courts.

“We at Parks are so proud to be able to join Council Member Cornegy and the Clinton Hill community in honoring the memory of Christopher ‘Biggie’ Wallace by renaming these basketball courts after him,” said Commissioner Maher. “Biggie was a neighborhood fixture all his life, and these basketball courts are where he came of age. It is inspiring to see the impact of his legacy on the young people who come to the courts every year for his namesake tournament, and we are grateful to Council Member Cornegy for funding the courts’ renovation, as well as the entire playground. In the spirit of Biggie, we can’t stop and we won’t stop making improvements to our neighborhood parks for generations to come.”

Wallace grew up in Brooklyn, just a few blocks from the park on St. James Place, and played basketball with a young Robert Cornegy on these very courts. The renaming happens just ahead of an annual basketball tournament held in Biggie's honor to raise funds for youth in need, set to take place this weekend on August 5 and 6. The legacy of his name – BIG – is now interpreted as “Books Instead of Guns,” encouraging young people to pursue studies as a means to success.

The playground at Crispus Attucks has also received a complete renovation. Funded by Council Member Robert Cornegy, this $2.5 Million project included new play equipment and safety surface, and improved circulation in the park, which makes both the basketball courts and comfort station accessible to all. The old stairs from Fulton Street were replaced with a garden, and landscaping was done throughout. These new courts were also part of the project, in addition to the handball courts, fencing, and security lighting.