FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 7, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Astoria Park playground opens after $12.5 million renovation project
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e children’s playground in the heart
of Astoria Park, named for a mythical
Greek monster, has reopened to the public
following a $12.5 million renovation.
Aft er the city Parks Department reconstructed
Charybdis Playground over the last
two years, the space now includes a stateof
the-art spray shower, all new equipment
and a complete renovation of the comfort
station, which will be completed this winter.
“Despite the fact it is named aft er a scary
mythological sea monster, the newly
reconstructed Charybdis Playground is
truly a beautiful and fun space that will
serve the recreational needs of Astoria’s
children and families in western Queens
neighborhoods for decades to come,”
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “Having access to fi rstclass
parks and recreational facilities is
important to the families of Queens,
and I am glad to see the ongoing major
upgrade to our borough’s park system.
I thank the mayor and the Council,
including former Council member and
my good friend Costa Constantinides,
for providing this funding.”
Constantinides allocated $3 million
in funding for the project, and Mayor
Bill de Blasio delivered $9.4 million as
part of the greater Anchor Parks program,
which already completed a new
eight-lane track surrounding a brandnew
synthetic turf soccer fi eld; an adult
fi tness area adjacent to the track; new site
amenities including water fountains and
benching lining the East River waterfront;
as well as a new rain garden and
much-needed erosion control.
“Th is is wonderful,” de Blasio said
during a press briefi ng on Sept. 24.
“It is a renovation to one of the most
popular playgrounds in all of Queens.
Kids are going to love this, and for so
many hardworking families in Astoria
and surrounding neighborhoods, this is
going to be a step in the right decision.”
Later that day, the mayor named
Gabrielle Fialkoff as NYC Parks commissioner.
She replaces Acting
Commissioner Margaret Nelson, who
helped cut the ribbon at Charybdis
Playground.
“We’re delighted to celebrate the tremendous
transformation of Charybdis
Photo courtesy NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
Playground,” Nelson said. “With new
play equipment and an interactive spray
play area that incorporates a piece of
this historic park’s past, Charybdis
Playground is better equipped to
serve Astoria for generations to come.
We’re grateful to Mayor de Blasio and
former Council member Constantinides
for their dedication and commitment
to providing New Yorkers with quality,
world-class parks.”
City offi cials reopened Charybdis Playground in Astoria Park.
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