Greenfield Breaks Ground On $5.45 Million Renovation Of Gravesend Park
Gravesend Park is getting a makeover!
Councilman David G. Greenfield joined with Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey, Community Board 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer and other officials Thursday to break ground on new renovations to two-thirds of Gravesend Park that have not been updated in over 30 years.
The renovations will include four new playgrounds, two new swing sets, brand new basketball and paddle-ball courts, and a new baseball field.
Several years ago, Councilman Simcha Felder funded the renovations of the first third of the park, which is located on 18th Avenue and 56th Street, and when Greenfield’s renovations are complete, the entire park will be brand new.
“Here in Brooklyn, we don’t have backyards or front yards. Instead we have our city parks. That’s why I am so proud to have made building parks my top priority as a Councilman,” said Greenfield. “Parks are the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re a billionaire or if you’re on food stamps: you’re using our parks. It’s something that benefits everyone. So I’m really thrilled today that the park that I grew up playing in is seeing an amazing renovation.”
The playground and swings area will also double in size and the baseball field will be completely reconstructed and aligned to accommodate new basketball and handball courts. A renovated seating area, new benches, and lighting will complete the project.
The construction project is sure to make an impact in the neighborhood. As we have reported, Gravesend Park was among the parks in New York City that racked up the most playground injury lawsuits within a ten year period. In addition, as Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey notes, it is located in an area where there are not many other green spaces.
“This is a district that has a large population, and unfortunately, a dearth of park land,” said Jeffrey. The Council Member has made over 17 million dollars in allocations to our parks here in your district. That is leveraged from the Mayor, the Borough President and other places for another $6 million for a grand total of $23 million thanks to Council Member David Greenfield.”
Community Board 12 district manager Barry Spitzer also commended the councilman for his generous contribution of capital funds.
“I would really like to thank Councilman Greenfield for allocating millions of dollars to this park. Gravesend Park, or as people in Borough Park call it the 18th Avenue Park, is the premier park in Boro Park,” said Spitzer. “This is really great and I’m so happy for the community.”
Every park in Greenfield’s district across Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst has either received upgrades or is in the process of being renovated thanks to Greenfield’s capital allocations. Recently the Parks department completed a renovation to the handball and basketball courts in Colonel David Marcus Park on Avenue P.
The renovations on Gravesend Park are expected to be complete by the end of 2016.