Poor Richard's Playground

NYC PARKS & SPORTIME UNVEIL UPGRADES AT POOR RICHARD’S PLAYGROUND

Reconstruction project added new kids’ instructional tennis courts, refurbished basketball courts and play area

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and Sportime were joined by Community Board 11, local schoolchildren, and community members today to unveil the newly revamped Poor Richard’s Playground in East Harlem.

A reconstruction project of more than $1.4 million, funded by Sportime, created five new “red ball” kid-sized tennis courts, which will be used to introduce young children to the sport. It also included full asphalt replacement of the playground’s multipurpose play areas and repainting of the site’s basketball courts, as well as replacement of backboards and nets. New fencing, benches, and a water fountain were also added.

“We’re thrilled to unveil these new enhancements to Poor Richard’s Playground! This park is already an important site for recreation in the East Harlem community, and now the youth tennis courts will help introduce tennis to children who might not otherwise have connection to the sport,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “By providing equitable access to quality play spaces, we’re able to strengthen neighborhoods, ensure kids remain active, and enhance public safety. We’re grateful to Sportime for their generous support and look forward to seeing kids enjoying the new space.”

Following the ribbon cutting, Sportime hosted a free tennis clinic for local children.

Sportime provides free instructional tennis programs for students attending schools in underserved communities, with a focus on East Harlem and the South Bronx. Since 2009, Sportime, in partnership with the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, has provided over 16,000 hours of free group tennis instruction and scholarships valued at close to $10 million.

In collaboration with schools adjacent to Poor Richard’s Playground, Sportime and John McEnroe Tennis Academy will use the five kid-size courts to provide free tennis clinics to local children during months where weather permits and will be donating nets and equipment to the schools for them to use independently.

“Sportime is very pleased to have been able to fund the renovation of the multipurpose play area and the basketball courts at Poor Richard’s Playground, which get substantial use by the surrounding schools and residents of the East Harlem community. We are also excited to continue to introduce the great game of tennis to the communities surrounding our tennis center on Randall’s Island, both at Sportime Randall’s Island and in those communities themselves, as will now be the case at Poor Richard’s playground, with lines provided for five youth-sized tennis courts,” said Ben Schlansky, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Sportime Clubs.