Ravenswood Playground renovation project begins
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 9-JULY 15, 2021 5
BY BILL PARRY
A heavily used community
green space adjoining
the Ravenswood Houses and
Queensview Homes in Long
Island City is undergoing a $7.1
million renovation.
Elected officials and community
leaders gathered Tuesday,
June 29, for a groundbreaking
ceremony at the
Ravenswood Playground on
21st Street between 34th and
35th avenues.
“This is a great day for
the children and families of
Ravenswood Houses, Queensbridge
Houses and the surrounding
neighborhoods as we
break ground on the first-class
playground this community
deserves,” Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards
said. “Fairness and equity
demand that all children, no
matter where they live, should
have access to top-quality play
spaces they need to thrive. Ravenswood
Playground will create
such a space, and I thank
Council member Van Bramer
and the de Blasio administration
in helping make this
project a reality.”
The $7.1 million project will
reconstruct the playground
with new, inclusive play equipment
and a spray play area. Improvements
will include new
accessible entrances, repaved
basketball courts and paths.
The project will also feature
new benches, lighting,
native tree and plant beds and
a renovated picnic grove that
will connect the playground
and softball field. Renovations
were made possible by a $3.9
million allocation from Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer,
$2.5 million from the borough
president’s office and $693,000
from Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“The people of Ravenswood
deserve a beautiful, modern
park and playground and the
way we renovate parks around
our city must be done with an
eye on equity,” Van Bramer
said. “The $7.1 million renovation
will make the Ravenswood
Playground a welcoming place
for kids and adults of all ages.”
The city acquired the site
on behalf of NYCHA for the
Ravenswood Houses project.
The agency drew up plans to
construct a community playground
on the land and finally
surrendered the property to
NYC Parks in 1952.
Just months later, Ravenswood
Houses Playground
opened with basketball, handball
and shuffleboard courts,
an ice skating area, a softball
field, swings, jungle gyms
and a sandpit. In 1987, NYC
Parks shortened the name to
Ravenswood Playground.
“Reconstruction is in full
swing at Ravenswood Playground.
By next summer, the
children and families of Long
Island City will be able to enjoy
brand-new play equipment,
updated sports courts and a
more inviting place to play,”
NYC Parks Queens Borough
Commissioner Michael Dockett
said. “We’re grateful to
Mayor de Blasio, Council member
Van Bramer and the office
of the borough president for
their continued partnership
and dedication to providing
Queens residents with worldclass
green spaces.”
The project is expected to be
completed in spring 2022.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards help break ground
on a $7.1 million renovation of Ravenswood Playground. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
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