A ceremonial ribbon-cutting event to mark the redevelopment of Hart Playground will take place Tuesday (Google Maps)
April 19, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
The Parks Dept. has completed a $3.2 million revamp of a Woodside park and will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event Tuesday that will be attended by several Queens officials.
Hart Playground, located at 37th Avenue and 65th Street, has been given a facelift and now features a new basketball court, children’s play areas and other amenities.
The ribbon-cutting event Tuesday will mark the official unveiling of the new-look park.
The park has been completely overhauled and divided into two main sections.
There is a children’s play area on the western side of the park and a recreation area for adults on the eastern portion. The two areas are divided by an asphalt block pavement and two plant areas running north south.
The clear division between the children’s area from the rest of the park came about after parents have complained about adults– particularly the homeless and day laborers–wandering through the playground.
Hart Playground (Google Maps)
The children’s area remains on the western side of the park that has undergone a major refurbishment.
In the northwest section, there is a spray shower and play area with new equipment for 5-12 year-olds. On the south west portion, eight-foot-high swings have been installed along with new play equipment for 2 to 5-year-olds as well as a painted games area.
On the eastern side of the park, the existing basketball court at the south east corner has been reconstructed. An additional half basketball court running alongside the court has also gone down.
On the north east corner there is a new volleyball/badminton court.
Surrounding sidewalks have been reconstructed and a new entrance on 65th Street now feature stairs and an American Disability Act (ADA) accessible ramp to improve site access and circulation.
Renovation work began in January 2020 following an 18-month delay as the Parks Dept. had problems finding a contractor. The redevelopment work was expected to take 12 months to complete but work on the project finished in November – two months ahead of schedule.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, whose office allocated $1.8 million of city funds for the project, will attend the ceremony tomorrow along with current Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz secured the remaining $1.38 million in funds for the overhaul.
NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Michael Dockett will also take part in the ceremony along with Queens Community Board 2 District Manager Debra Markell Kleinert.
The park is named after Brigadier General Joseph T. Hart, who served in World War II and also worked at the Queens Borough President’s office.
Hart Playground Rendering (NYC Parks Dept)
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