Gravesend Park

Gravesend Park In Brooklyn Is Named February's Park Of The Month

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
No. 8
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

Parks & Recreation is pleased to name the revitalized Gravesend Park as February’s Park of the Month. The park is located on 18th Avenue and 56th Street in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Thanks to over $3 million allocated by City Council Member Simcha Felder and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Parks reconstructed Gravesend Park to best meet the recreational needs of the area’s toddlers and young children, while also providing facilities geared towards families and senior citizens. On April 15, 2008, elected officials and community members gathered to celebrate by cutting the ceremonial ribbon on the park, revealing its eagerly anticipated renovations.

“Since the completion of our extensive renovations, Gravesend Park has been abuzz with all sorts of recreational activity, from softball games to chess matches,” said Commissioner Benepe. “Parkland is at a premium in Borough Park, and we are delighted to have completely rebuilt and greened a central open space facility in the community.”

All members of the community can take advantage of the refurbished park. For the younger ones, it features a new playground with adventure play equipment, a play mountain, swings and a spray shower. The park is also home to ample benches, game tables, and a wide array of plants and shrubs in newly designated garden areas. Brick pier steel fencing and brick seat walls enhance the park’s new design.

The park’s ballfields were also restored in-house by the borough’s maintenance and operations crews. They sifted through 1,800 cubic yards of soil to remove debris, added another 450 yards of topsoil, brought in 60 cubic yards of clay for the infields, and seeded, watered and groomed the fields for its opening last summer.

Gravesend Park regularly hosts sports leagues, school field days, and summer day camps within its facilities, and has emerged as a true community hub within Borough Park.

Borough Park grew out of colonial New Utrecht, one of six original Brooklyn townships. This parcel of land was first acquired in 1896 for the construction of a disciplinary training school. The school closed in 1916 and Parks acquired the property in 1917. Although the community of Gravesend is further south of the park, McDonald Avenue, which lies a few blocks to the east, used to be known as Gravesend Avenue.

Park of the Month introduces some of our greatest parks and recreation centers to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike. Visit www.nyc.gov/parks for more information about Gravesend Park and an archive of past featured parks.