School Playground Opens On Former Vacant Lot In Flushing

FLUSHING, QUEENS -- A once-vacant lot that served two Flushing schools was nearly unrecognizable as lawmakers, students and faculty gathered on Monday to unveil the playground built in its place.

A green roof gazebo, an outdoor classroom and a sprawling track and field were just some of the new amenities of the new eco-friendly playground that was designed, in part, by the students who share it at Daniel Carter Beard Middle School and Flushing International High School.

The lot at 144-80 Barclay Ave underwent a $1 million makeover as part of the Trust for Public Land's NYC Playgrounds Program, which works with the city to build school and community playgrounds and lets students have a hand in the design process.

When the space reopened on Monday, the lot's parking spaces were painted over and replaced by benches, bleachers, trees and a garden. A standalone wooden panel had been transformed into a handball wall. A track and field stretched over one corner near a green roof gazebo and across from an outdoor classroom.

"As our community continues to grow, it is important that we seek out new ways to maximize our public spaces and create more livable, family-friendly neighborhoods," said Queens City Councilman Peter Koo, who contributed $200,000 to the project.

And the new park doesn't just look green, it plays the part. Its turf field, paving stones, bioswales, trees and garden are expected to capture 700,000 gallons of stormwater each year, according to the NYC Department of Education.

"This green playground transforms a vacant lot into a valuable community amenity that will serve both students and residents for generations to come while helping to reduce the sewage outfalls into the Flushing Creek," Koo said.

The park will be open to the community after school hours and on weekends, according to the DOE.

“With nearly 36,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of this brand new, state-of-the-art recreation space, we are not only creating greater access to open space, but are providing the entire Flushing community with a quality, environmentally friendly park to enjoy for decades to come,” said Carter Strickland, The Trust for Public Land's New York director.

(Lead photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Education)