Juniper Valley Park

Parks Cuts Ribbon On Second Phase Of Renovations To Juniper South Playground

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, Community Board District Manager Gary Giordano, members of the Juniper Park Civic Association, Middle Village community residents, and children from the Learning Tree School to cut the ribbon on $750,000 in renovations to Juniper South Playground.

“Juniper Valley Park is one of the jewels of the Queens parks system,” said Commissioner Benepe. “This new playground features the latest in 21st century playground design, with eco-friendly stormwater capture, challenging climbing equipment, and a wetland-themed spray shower that reflects the site’s history as a former swamp. We are grateful to Borough President Helen Marshall for her generous allocation that allowed us to renovate this playground, and her staunch support for parks throughout Queens.”

“It has been my pleasure to work with Queens Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and her staff to provide new improvements to our more than 400 parks, playgrounds, triangles and malls throughout the borough,” said Borough President Helen Marshall. “Today, we cut the ribbon on yet another new playground. It was my privilege to provide $750,000 in capital funds to complete this phase of the Juniper South Playground, designed for children from ages 5 to 12.”

“I want to thank Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall for their continued support of parks throughout Queens," said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “Juniper Valley Park was my local playground as a child, and it continues to improve with each passing year. Children can now play on the new slides and swings in an impressive design that captures the historical significance of this area's past as a former swampland. As an added bonus, the playground is eco-friendly and built to be sustainable for future generations."

The project was funded with $750,000 allocated by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. The renovated playground includes two slides, a variety of climbing equipment, a sitting area, and a spray shower. The new spray shower is designed to look like a pond, with shower heads in the shape of cattails and a dragonfly perched on a reed, and depictions of Mallard ducks “swimming” in the water.

This is the second phase of improvements to Juniper South Playground. An earlier $933,000 renovation, funded by Council Member Crowley and Mayor Bloomberg and completed in 2010, added accessible play equipment designed for younger children.