Forest Park

NEW, ENGAGING PLAY EQUIPMENT COMES TO DEVOY PLAYGROUND IN QUEENS’ FOREST PARK

NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski today joined Borough President Melinda Katz and Council Member Elizabeth Crowley to cut the ribbon on a $1.45 million upgrade to Joseph Devoy Playground in Forest Park.

“With a new entranceway and a layout that allows wheelchairs to navigate safely between play elements, Joe Devoy Playground has been transformed into a completely accessible space,” said Commissioner Lewandowski. “Spring is right around the corner, and now kids of all abilities can exercise their imaginations at this new treehouse-themed playground and enjoy the great outdoors in one of Queens’ flagship parks.”

“Forest Park is a jewel in our City’s parks system due to its natural beauty and to amenities like DeVoy Playground,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. "With spring around the corner, the newly renovated DeVoy Playground will make it an even more engaging place for the growing families around Forest Park. NYC Parks deserves to be commended for completing this upgrade months ahead of schedule.”

The goal of this playground renovation was to open up the site and provide ADA access to all features and amenities within. New dynamic play components for children up to the age of 12 were installed, including a treehouse themed playground with panel games, and steel drums.

The playground’s new layout is designed to be sensitive to the park’s sloping terrain and preserve the tree root systems. The interactive playground equipment resembles an old fashioned tree house and is colored in earth tones to reflect the nearby forest, and new pieces like steel drums provide for more engaging and activated play. A drinking fountain, additional seating, accessible swings, and a new tire swing were also installed. Some pre-existing features, such as the wood climbing logs and animal sculptures, were preserved at the request of the community.

Work began in late June 2016, and the project was completed months ahead of schedule. The $1.45 million capital project was made possible by full funding from the Queens Borough President’s Office between FY14-1‎5.

Forest Park is one of the natural treasures of New York City. The Wisconsin glacier molded the land 20,000 years ago and left the Harbor Hill Moraine, creating a series of small hills, known as “knob and kettle” terrain, within Forest Park. Today, the Park offers a wide array of recreational facilities such as the George Seuffert, Sr. Bandshell, a carousel, a bridal path, tennis courts, playgrounds, and Victory Field.

Know Before You Go

Forest Park Visitor Center