BY JESSICA PARKS
Sheepshead Bay’s Mellett
Playground is fi nally getting
a facelift after sustaining
years of constant fl ooding, according
to city offi cials, who
announced a yearlong reconstruction
of the park that’s
scheduled to kick off in the
fall.
“We are looking forward
to construction to begin here
at Mellett Playground which
is really utilized a lot,” said
Councilman Chaim Deutsch
at an Aug. 31 press conference
at the park. “Parks and
playgrounds are the lifeblood
of our community. Children,
families, and seniors gather
in these open spaces to enjoy
each other’s company and celebrate
life.”
Major drainage issues have
inundated the park since 2017,
resulting in the greenspace
sitting covered in giant pools
of stagnant water for several
months each year. The playground
COURIER L 6 IFE, SEPT. 11-17, 2020
equipment has also
not been upgraded since the
Avenue V playground’s initial
opening, and has deteriorated
rapidly with little maintenance,
said Deutsch.
“Mellett Playground has
been in dire need of an upgrade
— ponding issues have
plagued the park, and old
fashioned play equipment has
been a source of frustration
for kids,” Deutsch said.
The $2 million reconstruction
project will work to remedy
the park’s drainage issues
on the ground and with
the sprinklers, as well as outfi
t the playground with new
swings, game tables, and other
play equipment.
Construction will take
around one year to complete,
forcing parks honchos to close
the play area until at least fall
2021.
Work was originally
Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Marty Maher (center left) and Councilman Chaim Deutsch (center right) pose
with a symbolic check for the reconstruction of Mellett Playground. Photo courtesy of Councilman Chaim Deutsch
planned to begin in March
but was delayed by the ongoing
coronavirus pandemic,
according to Deutsch, who
noted that the project required
a go-ahead from the
city before they could plan to
break ground.
Greenspace honchos told
Brooklyn Paper previously
that they have made several
attempts to drain the swamp
at the playground over the
last several years, but structural
issues rendered their attempts
useless, and heavy construction
is needed to get the
job done.
Spruce up!
Sheepshead Bay’s Mellett
Playground gets $2M facelift
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