NYC PARKS UNVEILS NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED DONGAN PLAYGROUND

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined New York City Councilmember David Carr and students from P.S. 52 to cut the ribbon on a reconstruction of Dongan Playground.

"The reconstruction of Dongan Playground provides children with a new, attractive play space that boasts enhanced resilience to extreme weather. By creating the highest quality recreational spaces, we're increasing public safety, enhancing livability, and bringing communities together," said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. "We're grateful to the New York City Council for funding this project, and we look forward to community members and students from nearby P.S. 52 enjoying this revamped playground for many years to come."

A $3.5 million reconstruction project, funded by the New York City Council, fully transformed the existing playground by adding new play equipment with areas designated for children 2 to 5 years old, as well as ages 5 through 12. The project also added new pavement, safety surfacing, fencing, seating, and a drinking fountain/bottle filler.

In addition, the site's grading and drainage was improved to better handle stormwater and prevent flooding, making the site more resilient to severe weather.

Dongan Playground is jointly operated with nearby P.S. 52, which shares a city block with the playground. Students and administrators from the school participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

As well as serving the school, the playground is also open for the general public to enjoy. The site also includes public restrooms, handball courts, and an asphalt yard used for basketball.

The playground is named for the 17th century British governor of New York, Colonel Thomas Dongan, who served from 1634 to 1715 and is credited with organizing New York into counties and drafting the charter document that supplied the first civil framework for New York City. Opened in 1968, the site was initially named P.S. 52 Playground for the adjacent school. In March 1986, former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern renamed the property Mason Playground for nearby Mason Avenue, and in 1997 Stern again renamed it to honor Dongan.

"The Dongan Playground upgrade project is an unmitigated success, and its restoration is a huge step forward for the quality of life for the area. I want to thank NYC Parks for the great job as well as both Steve Matteo and Corey Johnson for their commitment to this project and to P.S. 52," said City Councilmember David Carr. "Children and their parents deserve the best the city has to offer, and this new playground delivers on that vision."

"This park is more than a beautiful addition to Dongan Hills - it's a legacy. A legacy of collaboration, of foresight, and of a shared belief that every community deserves a safe, welcoming space to connect with one another," said P.S. 52 Principal JoAnne Cancel.