Construction will begin later this year in a Richmond Hill playground that will see a number of new additions added just in time for the summer season.
Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) announced that London Planetree Playground, which is on Atlantic and 95th avenues between 88th and 89th streets in Richmond Hill, will get $1.7 million in funding from the City Council and the Queens Borough President.
According to Ulrich and a spokesperson from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the cash allows for several additions to the playground, including two new basketball courts, a new skateboarding park, a walking track, adult fitness equipment, sitting areas, trees and shrubs. Ulrich added that the new additions are needed for the playground. In particular, Ulrich said, the skating area in the playground will give kids a safe place to skateboard and keep them away from the Pathmark supermarket in the nearby shopping center.
“They won’t be at Pathmark shopping center anymore, riding their skateboards and driving everyone crazy,” said Ulrich at the Our Neighbors of Ozone Park Civic Association meeting on Feb. 7.
Mary Ann Carey, district manager of Community Board 9, said that she has seen people skateboarding in the shopping center during the day time and in the evening and that the skaters will sometimes interfere with people trying to park their cars or pull out of a parking spot.
“Hopefully the young people will make use of this new skate park,” Carey said.
According to the Parks department spokesperson, the design features for the skating park may include two-, three- and five- stair sections, grind rails, hubba ledges, a stamped brick quarter pipe and several banks and slopes.
Ulrich said that the new additions will be in an area between the playground and the handball court that’s currently a black slab of asphalt. He added that the walking track will be convenient for people who don’t want to go to Charles Park in Howard Beach to do walking exercises.
As for the construction, the Parks department spokesperson said that bidding is underway for the construction with the bids due on March 1. Once the contract is awarded, they expect it to start this summer and it’s expected to take 18 months, the spokesperson said.
By Luis Gronda
