Robert Moses Playground

NYC PARKS COMPLETES INSTALLATION OF THREE NEW TURF FIELDS ON MANHATTAN’S EAST SIDE

NYC Parks today announced that it has installed three new synthetic turf fields at neighborhood parks in Midtown east. The in-house upgrades converted asphalt play areas into new locations for passive and active recreation – including baseball and soccer – at St. Vartan Park, Robert Moses Playground, and Peter’s Field. These renovations are part of the agency’s open space mitigations responsive to the community’s need for supplemental recreational resources during the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project – a $1.5 billion park improvement project that will save lives and provide much-needed flood protection for more than 100,000 New Yorkers in the area.

“These turf fields are a win for the community! We’re happy to see that the new greenspaces at St. Vartan Park, Robert Moses Playground, and Peter’s Field are already well-used by parkgoers looking to play baseball or soccer, exercise, or just enjoy some time outside,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “These projects build on our commitment to making sure surrounding neighborhoods have access to recreation and open space while we work to provide lifesaving flood protection through the ESCR project.”

In addition to the fields at St. Vartan Park, Robert Moses Playground, and Peter’s Field, Parks has also installed new turf areas at Tanahey Playground, Little Flower Playground, and Waterside Pier. A map of the fields and other recreational resources in the neighborhoods surrounding the ESCR project area can be found on our website.

“I’m thrilled about the installation of new turf fields at St. Vartan’s Park, Robert Moses Playground, and Peter’s Field,” said Council Member Keith Powers. “As we work to ensure the East Side is protected against future weather disasters, it’s so important that we’re maintaining community access to parks. Thank you to the Parks Department for delivering these much needed green spaces on behalf of East Siders.”

“Since we embarked on East Side Coastal Resiliency, we have welcomed suggestions from the community on enhancing access at other open spaces during this essential project. Ensuring impacted residents have alternative sites available for recreation throughout the project’s duration was of the utmost importance,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “I am grateful to the Parks Department for their swift work in bringing improvements and new amenities to our beloved open spaces. The new turf fields at Peter’s Field in District 2, as well as St. Vartan’s Park and Robert Moses Playground, are emblematic of the City’s ongoing efforts to deliver long-lasting, positive impact to our community as we continue to work toward climate resiliency.”

In addition to these newly installed fields, Parks has completed the following, previously announced, ESCR-related mitigation projects:

New Synthetic Turf

• Tanahey Playground
• Little Flower Playground

Painting Upgrades, Spruce Ups, New Synthetic Turf

• Waterside Pier

New Sports Coating

• Alfred E. Smith Playground (spray shower)
• Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center (basketball)
• Coleman Playground (spray shower, games)
• Columbus Park (volleyball)
• Sara D. Roosevelt Park (soccer)
• St. Vartan Park (basketball)
• Tanahey Playground (basketball courts)
• Murphy Brothers Playground (basketball)
• Little Flower Playground (basketball)

Painting Upgrades and Spruce Ups

• Alfred E. Smith Playground (comfort station doors, play equipment)
• Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center (building exterior, handball)
• Baruch Playground (play equipment, handball, benches)
• Coleman Playground (comfort station, play equipment, railing, swings, benches, handball, sidewalk repair, added picnic tables)
• Little Flower Playground (benches, handball, play equipment, basketball backboards, comfort station exterior)
• Tanahey Playground (playground equipment, benches, railings, sidewalk and pavement repair)
• Tompkins Square Park (storage containers, benches, handball, comfort station door, adult fitness equipment, backboards, fence removal)
• Robert Moses Playground (basketball backboards, comfort station doors)
• Corlears Hook (benches, planters, replace lawn fence)
• Cherry Clinton Playground (adult fitness, handball, basketball backboards, benches)
• Hamilton Fish (recreation center doors, two corner pavilions, basketball backboards)
• First Park (play equipment, benches, low wall, spray shower, sculpture)
• John Jay Park (install tennis, benches, handball, adult fitness)
• St Vartan (handball, benches, basketball backboards, comfort station doors)
• Columbus Park (comfort station doors and divider)

Neighborhood Greening

• In addition to the more than 1,800 trees planned for the new park, NYC Parks is in the process of planting 1,000 trees in Community Boards 3 and 6.
  • To date, more than 500 trees have been planted on neighborhood streets and in neighborhood parks.
  • The balance will be planted over the next two years.
• NYC Parks has completed an inventory of plants in East River Park. This will inform efforts to transplant viable planting beds to other parks in the district, as construction timing and access allows.

Seward Park Parkhouse / Lower East Side Ecology Center

• NYC Parks has completed upgrades to the parkhouse - the soon to be new temporary home of the Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC), where they will present programming. Upgrades include:
  • Roof repairs
  • New LED lighting
  • Interior painting

NYCHA Open Space Improvements

• Parks, in conjunction with NYCHA, has implemented select open space spruce ups at the following locations:
• Alfred E. Smith Houses, Lillian Wald Houses, Campos Plaza II, Riis Houses, and Seward Park Extension.

BBQ

• Replaced BBQ grills at Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center
• Added new BBQ grills at Little Flower Playground
• Installed additional BBQ areas at Dry Dock Playground

Resources for community gardens

• Parks provided various improvements and expanded support to local community gardens including materials, equipment, services and programming.
• Materials were delivered to 23 gardens in the Lower East Side.

The following improvements are underway:

Neighborhood Greening

• In addition to the more than 1,800 trees planned for the new park, NYC Parks is in the process of planting 1,000 trees in Community Boards 3 and 6.
  • To date, more than 500 trees have been planted on neighborhood streets and in neighborhood parks.
  • The balance will be planted over the next two years.
• As a part of the ESCR greening efforts, NYC Parks will install 40 rain gardens in Community Boards 3 and 6 during ESCR construction.

New Open Spaces at Pier 42

• In Fall 2020, Parks and EDC will begin construction to create new open spaces with the Pier 42 Upland Park and the Pier 42 Deck projects.
  • The Pier 42 Upland Park is a long-awaited new waterfront open space that will feature a new playground, comfort station, walking paths, and lawns. Parks and EDC will incorporate seal, crab, and turtle sculptures from East River Park at the new park. Anticipated completion Summer 2023.
  • EDC will also implement structural repairs to the deck at Pier 42 and install sports fields to facilitate additional recreational space during ESCR construction. Anticipated completion Summer 2022.

Ballfields

• To extend field play in the fall and spring seasons, the City is continuing to pilot the placement of solar-powered moveable ballfield lights, ensuring extra hours played each day.