Dutch Kills Playground to Get Upgrades, But Not Tennis Courts

We’ve talked a lot about the big money Astoria Park is getting—a $30M grant—but did you hear about another local park that is also looking at getting some funding? That would be Dutch Kills Playground, located on 28th Street between 36th and 37th Avenues, and their overhaul is estimated to cost $4.5 million. Local councilman Jimmy Van Bramer helped to secure the money, and the place sure could use some improvements—last time it got any serious attention from the city was back in the 1990s.

DNAinfo reports on the specific improvements: “The reconstruction project will include new playgrounds, spray showers, workout equipment for adults and other features.” Later on in the article they also specify that the money “will be used to renovate the handball and basketball courts, add picnic tables, adult fitness equipment, water sprinklers and new play equipment for both toddlers and older kids.”

However, there are these multi-purpose asphalt sports courts along 37th Avenue that were mysteriously left out of the plans, which doesn’t make much sense, since they are used extensively. It’s reported that there are cracks so big in the asphalt that people trip over them, and those people are mostly kids using the courts for tennis (the New York Junior Tennis & Learning runs a free youth tennis program there). Both parents and the tennis program leaders are concerned about the neglect of these courts, but Scott Daly, who helps run the tennis program, says they won’t abandon the site and will continue to “make do” with what they have. Admirable, for sure, but still unfortunate.

Here is a copy of the design for Dutch Kills Playground. Lots of nice new things aside from the sad state of affairs of the asphalt courts.

Sounds like the upgrades will take about a year to put into place and will start sometime in 2018.

$4.5M Overhaul of LIC Park Ignores Run-Down Tennis Courts, Parents Say [DNAinfo]
Long Island City Playground Getting $4.5M Overhaul [DNAinfo]

4 Comments

KRIS December 8th, 2016

What a joke! $4.5 million and they can’t re-do the roller rink?!? Shame on the neighborhood..make lic/astoria great again

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Bill December 8th, 2016

Let’s not forget there is a roller hockey rink with the same issues as the multiuse area. I can say from experience that those cracks don’t play well with hockey wheels…

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Tracey December 9th, 2016

Very good point bill

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sam December 8th, 2016

As someone who uses the roller rink, this is extremely disappointing. Shame on Jimmy Van Bramer for not listening to the community as it’s constituents needs.

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