By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the opening of 11 new sites—including one in South Richmond Hill—as part of the City’s new “Schoolyards to Playgrounds” program.
According to the administration, Schoolyards to Playgrounds increases access to green space for New Yorkers in neighborhoods not within walking distance of a park by opening up schoolyards to the public when not in use by the school — during the summer, after school, and on the weekends. Beginning this month, these sites will be open from 8 a.m. until dusk year-round.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, the City is permanently investing $770,000 toward these additional sites, which will put green space within a 10-minute walk of an additional 20,000 New Yorkers, Adams said. Monday’s announcement is part of Adams’ “We Outside Summer” initiative that includes a series of announcements, events, investments, and new programming across the five boroughs to encourage New Yorkers to spend summer outside.
“Free, accessible public spaces like our parks and these playgrounds make our city safer, more beautiful, and more livable,” said City Parks & Recreation Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “We’re so grateful to our partners at New York City Public Schools who will continue to care for and directly manage these spaces as they open to the public. We’re proud of our work expanding public space access throughout the five boroughs, and I thank Mayor Adams for his commitment to investing in our shared greenspaces and public realm.”
As of July 1, the following five Queens school sites will be open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk:
- PS 55 Maure Magnet School, 131-10 97th Ave., South Richmond Hill
- Jean Nuzzi Intermediate School, 213-10 92nd Ave., Queens Village
- PS 156, 229-02 137th Ave., Laurelton
- PS 7 Louis F. Simeone, 80-55 Cornish Ave., Elmhurst
- PS 2 Alfred Zimberg School, 75-10 21st Ave., East Elmhurst
“New York City is the greatest city in the world to be a kid and today, we’re going to make it even better by making it easier for our kids to play close to home,” Adams said. “Today, we are delivering on another one of our State of the City commitments by putting 20,000 more New Yorkers within a 10-minute walk of green spaces. Our schools are home to incredible playgrounds, spaces that shouldn’t be locked away after the school day or when the school year ends, especially in neighborhoods without a lot of public green spaces — and now fewer of them will be. We have to keep our city a place where everyone can raise a family, and this announcement is another way we’re supporting families across the five boroughs.”
Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos added, “Access to playgrounds is about more than just recreational play; it’s about building stronger, healthier communities where students can develop their social-emotional skills and build healthy exercise habits. By continuing investment in these spaces, we are providing our children and families with safe, welcoming environments to connect, be physically active, and thrive.”
