Sternberg Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, May 20, 2004

BIG CHANGES IN STORE FOR STERNBERG PARK

It was a sunny morning in Brooklyn when Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Council Member Diana Reyna, State Senator Martin Malave Dilan, and Community Board 1 Chair Vincent Abate at Sternberg Park to kick off several major capital improvements. Elementary school students from Most Holy Trinity School and a large group of community residents helped celebrate the groundbreaking of the $2.19 million reconstruction.

"This playground was originally built at a time when the importance of playgrounds and athletic activity were just beginning to be recognized by the City," said Commissioner Benepe. "Today, creating clean, beautiful space for children to play in is Parks & Recreation’s primary mission." The commissioner praised the dedication of Council Member Reyna and honored the longtime commitment of Community Board Chair Abate. He also thanked State Senator Dilan for setting an example of supporting City parks at the State level.

During her remarks, Council Member Reyna called on local residents to care for their park and commit time to making sure it remains clean once the work is completed. "This is our park," she told the residents, and she expressed thanks to the dedication of Parks & Recreation and Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel for consistently addressing her concerns and the interests of residents.

The project was funded with a $2.06 million allocation from Council Member Reyna and $160,000 in Mayoral funds. The project will create curving paths within the park that depart from the grid of the surrounding city streets. Designed by Parks & Recreation architects Tom Cirillo and Carol Qu, the work includes reconstruction of the playground with new play equipment, colorful safety surfacing and a spray shower, as well as the renovation of the basketball and handball courts and the construction of a brand new park building with restrooms and a programming room. The design includes new benches, game tables, pavements, curbs, drinking fountains, fencing and plantings. There will also be fitness equipment for adults and perimeter fencing. Work began on the project in April and is expected to be completed in one year. Resident Engineer Francisco Velez will oversee the project throughout construction.

A second phase of the project is anticipated to start this fall. Using $1.3 million in funds allocated by Council Member Reyna, Parks & Recreation will construct a brand new state-of-the-art synthetic turf field which will be used for baseball and other sports.

This four-acre park honors Frances Hamburger Sternberg, a New York native and active Brooklyn community member who contributed greatly to the social and political life of the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods. Her philanthropic legacy included chairing the Friends of Lindsay Park (this park’s previous name) Committee. In 1990, local law changed the name of the park to honor her life.

Written by Eric Adolfsen

"All know that the drop merges into the ocean
but few know that the oceanmerges into the drop."

Kabir, reformer, poet
(late 15th century)