Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. visited P.S. 122 on June 8 to celebrate the school’s new playground with students and faculty in Astoria. Vallone joined Assemblymember Aravella Simotas and P.S. 122 Principal Pamela Sabel in cutting the grand-opening ribbon – officially unveiling the playground. The councilmember then high-fived children and attended a dance recital performed by students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The park, which was built through a partnership between the Department of Education, Department of Parks and Recreation and the Trust for Public Land, will be open to the public on weekends and during after-school hours on weekdays until dusk. “I grew up and I still live half a block away from this playground, and I used to play strike box in the “U-yard” and won the YMCA touch football championship on this field – but it never looked as great as this,” said Vallone. “With childhood obesity rates being as high as they are, children need every motivation possible to play outside and stay healthy, and this new playground will go a long way towards getting kids excited about exercising.”