Photo Spencer T. Tucker Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg opens the newly renovated Rockaway Park, one of eight regional parks being transformed as part of PlaNYC. He was joined by Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder and Councilmember James Sanders.Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe cut the ribbon on the redevelopment of Rockaway Park on August 6, one of the eight regional parks being transformed under PlaNYC, the city’s long-term plan for a greener, greater New York. The regional parks address the need for open space and more recreational facilities for a growing population. The work at Rockaway Park included the construction of more than $30 million in new amenities, including a 15,700-square-foot skateboard park, handball and basketball courts, playgrounds, climbing wall, performance space, water play area, synthetic turf field, and accessible comfort station. The mayor was also joined at the ribbon-cutting by Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder and Councilmember James Sanders.
“One of the central commitments of PlaNYC – our long-term agenda for a greener, greater New York – has been to transform eight sites around the city into regional destination parks,” said Bloomberg. “The completion of Rockaway Park marks another big step forward in keeping our commitment to sustainability and improving our city’s quality of life by investing in the green spaces of the future.”
Located along a mile-long stretch of beach at the eastern end of the Rockaway peninsula, this PlaNYC initiative presented the opportunity to make the most of the beachfront setting to provide much needed park facilities for the rapidly growing residential community.
In keeping with Bloomberg’s vision for a greener New York, the redeveloped park was designed with permeable surfaces to improve storm water collection, and natural habitats and coastal dunes have been protected and enhanced. In the East Park, a large parking lot has been transformed into a rolling lawn for passive recreation and viewing events at a new performance venue. Adding to our MillionTreesNYC total, the project also included extensive tree plantings to provide shaded park areas.
The project site is 27 acres in size, and approximately one mile long and borders the boardwalk and open beach between Beach 9th Street and Beach 32nd Street.
Other regional parks being developed as part of PlaNYC also includes Highland Park in Ridgewood.