Benson Playground Is Now Open With Improved Courts & Play Spaces

After a year of construction, officials cut the ribbon today to open the renovated portion at Bath Avenue’s Benson Playground.

Improvement include a new color seal coat for field and track sports, and upgrades to the basketball court like new pavement, color seal coat and lines, and backboards with hoops and nets.

A green space including trees and plants, along with new concrete pavement for the handball courts, drinking fountains, and a new color seal coat for street games were also added.

Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony was well attended, including NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, 43rd District Council Member Vincent Gentile, administrators, and nearly 100 students from P.S. 200, and community members.

The Bensonhurst playground, located at Bath Avenue Between Bay 22nd and Bay 23rd Streets, has been under construction for at least a year, but the community-led design process has been in the works since 2014.

With $1,157,000 in funding contributed by Gentile, P.S. 200’s schoolyard was reconstructed ahead of schedule, according to a Parks estimate that pegged the completion date at the end of 2017.

Check out photos of the freshly upgraded park below: