Kolbert Playground

NYC PARKS CUTS THE RIBBON ON COMPLETE RENOVATION TO KOLBERT PLAYGROUND IN BROOKLYN

NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher, yesterday joined City Council Member Kalman Yeger, former City Council Member David Greenfield, Community Board Chairman Alvin Berk and community members to cut the ribbon on Brooklyn’s newly renovated Kolbert Playground. The project was funded with a total of $4 million, with $500,000 from Borough President Eric L. Adams and $3.5M from former City Council Member Greenfield.

“When you combine great partners like David Greenfield and our Council Member Kalman Yeger and great input from the community you get great results,” said Borough Commissioner Maher. “This project doubled the playground size with brand new equipment for kids of all ages and abilities, a synthetic turf playfield and track, four new handball and two full basketball courts, an adult fitness area and lots of trees and landscaping. Kolbert Playground now provides this great community with many opportunities for fun, fitness and happiness, which is what Commissioner Silver reminds us NYC Parks is all about.”

"The renovation of Kolbert Playground has been years in the making,” said Borough President Adams. “Partnering with former Council Member Greenfield and NYC Parks, we have made this open space one that will truly serve everyone in the Midwood community. I join our children and families in celebrating the reopening of this treasured destination for neighborhood recreation."

“As a member of our local Community Board for 18 years until last December, this was one of my favorite public works projects,” said Council Member Yeger. “Just because we live in a concrete jungle doesn’t mean we can’t get good parks that are safe, clean and beautiful, just like this one. Kolbert was my childhood park, so it’s all the more moving for me to celebrate its grand re-opening.”

The improved Kolbert Playground includes an expansion of the existing playground with a new spray shower, adult fitness equipment, synthetic turf field and walking track; and a complete reconstruction of the multi-purpose play area, and handball and basketball courts.

Bounded by Avenue L, East 17th and East 18th Streets, this playground honors the memory of Paul W. Kolbert (1925-1945), a fallen World War II soldier and hero. Born and raised in Midwood, Kolbert lived at nearby 1325 East 18th Street with his father Joseph, his mother Rose, and his brother Melvin. He attended P.S. 97, Seth Low Junior High School, Madison High School, Brooklyn College, and St. John's University. Throughout his childhood, Kolbert was a member of Boy Scout Troop 285 and a delivery boy for The Brooklyn Eagle.