NYC DEP and Trust for Public Land Break Ground on New Green Playground in Jackson Heights

April 27, 2026

DEP Invests $1 Million in New Playground Design to Reduce Street Flooding and Protect Local Waterways

Synthetic Turf Athletic Field Will Capture up to 260,000 Gallons of Stormwater Annually

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today joined the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the School Construction Authority (SCA), staff, students, local elected officials, and community members to break ground on a new green playground at P.S. 69Q in Jackson Heights, Queens. DEP contributed $1 million to the project, which includes a synthetic turf athletic field designed specifically to capture up to 260,000 gallons of stormwater annually. By soaking up rainwater where it falls, the new playground will help reduce flooding on school grounds and in the surrounding neighborhood and limit sewer overflows into the East River and New York Harbor during rainstorms.

DEP's partnership with TPL is a key component of the agency's nation-leading green infrastructure program that has constructed over 16,000 green infrastructure installations, including subsurface detention systems, rain gardens, infiltration basins, green roofs, permeable pavement and green medians. All of these green infrastructure tools intercept stormwater before it drains into the sewer system, thereby freeing up capacity in the sewers, reducing street flooding and protecting local waterways. Together, DEP and TPL have built 52 new playgrounds that manage stormwater, with five more in design and 23 in planning.

"The upgraded playground at P.S. 69Q will give students and families in Jackson Heights a fun new place to play, and capture stormwater on rainy days which will reduce neighborhood flooding" said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. "DEP is proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land on this important project to help safeguard our environment and reduce increasing impacts from climate change."

"This groundbreaking represents an investment in the health, joy, and future of Jackson Heights," said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director for Trust for Public Land. "TPL is grateful for leaders like CM Krishnan for advocating for the creation of public green spaces that not only give kids room to play and learn but benefit entire neighborhoods."

"The School Construction Authority is proud to partner on this important project that will transform an underutilized schoolyard into a vibrant, green space for both students and the Jackson Heights community," said Nina Kubota, SCA President & CEO. "Projects like this reflect our commitment to creating healthy, sustainable learning environments while expanding access to safe outdoor spaces in neighborhoods that need them most."

"Jackson Heights families deserve safe, beautiful places where children can play, learn, and thrive," said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. "That's why I was proud to invest in transforming the schoolyard at P.S. 69 into a green, welcoming community space. This project will serve hundreds of students every day and thousands of neighbors after school hours-bringing much-needed open space to one of the most park-starved communities in our city."

Designed through a participatory process with students, educators, families, and community members, the new schoolyard will feature nature-themed play elements and shaded seating. The subsurface storage system beneath the synthetic turf athletic field will capture, hold and slowly release stormwater back into the sewer after the peak rainfall. The project will also reduce heat and contribute to a healthier urban environment.

P.S. 69Q serves more than 800 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Jackson Heights has some of the lowest access to open space in New York City, making projects like this essential for children's health and overall community well-being. Once complete, the space will be open to the public outside of school hours, expanding access to much-needed outdoor recreation for more than 56,000 nearby residents within a 10-minute walk.

Since 1996, TPL's NYC Playgrounds Program has helped design and build 238 school and community playgrounds across the five boroughs. The community schoolyard initiative is a key part of Trust for Public Land's mission to close the park-equity gap and create vibrant, climate-resilient outdoor spaces in neighborhoods that need them most. TPL is leading the movement to transform asphalt schoolyards into vital green infrastructure through advocacy, policy change, research, and resource sharing. These revitalizations create dynamic outdoor spaces that boost student health and learning, reduce neighborhood heat, and absorb stormwater.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About the NYC School Construction Authority

The School Construction Authority's (SCA) mission is to design and construct safe, attractive, and environmentally sound public schools for children throughout the many communities of New York City. We are dedicated to building and modernizing schools in a responsible, cost-effective manner while achieving the highest standards of excellence in safety, quality, and integrity. Established by the New York State Legislature in December 1988, the SCA has provided over 300,000 new school seats to New York City students, and protected, repaired, and upgraded over 1,800 schools in over 1,400 school buildings with over 12,500 capital improvement projects. For more information, please visit nycsca.org.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City's water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules.For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.