TPL and NYC DOE Commit $25M for New Playgrounds

New York, NY, November 10, 2004: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Vice Chair of the Fund for Public Schools Caroline Kennedy, and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of the Trust for Public Land Rose Harvey today announced a new partnership between the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) that will construct 25 new playgrounds at public schools across the city over the next five years. The overall cost of this public-private partnership is $25 million, one-third of which will be raised through private fundraising efforts by TPL, and DOE will pay the remainder. The playgrounds will be open to the general public daily after school is dismissed.

The announcement took place at Open Road Playground in the East Village in Manhattan, which was completed in 2001 as part of TPL’s City Spaces program. Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Klein, Ms. Kennedy and Ms. Harvey were joined at the announcement by Leslie Koch, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund for Public Schools, Bill Goldstein, the Chief Executive Officer of the School Construction Authority and students from East Side High School and P.S. 38—schools that have already benefited from TPL’s City Spaces program.

“Having quality recreational space is an important part of our children’s overall education, health and physical well-being,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “These new playgrounds will enhance the school day for children by providing a clean and safe place for recreation, while also making the surrounding neighborhoods more livable. I would like to thank the Trust for Public Land for their commitment to creating playgrounds and improve our open spaces where it is needed most.”

The 25 schools that will receive new playgrounds as a result of this initiative will be identified by TPL in consultation with the DOE. Schools will be identified as potential participants based first on need. TPL’s efforts are focused on low-income, high-density neighborhoods, which are underserved in terms of open recreational space. Additional selection criteria include the school’s need for new playground facilities, the availability of land near school buildings, the size of the school’s student body, and the possibility of a strong community partnership for design and stewardship of the parks. The schools that have thus far been selected to participate in this initiative are P.S. 180 in Harlem and JHS 220 in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Both will have new playgrounds in Fall 2005.

“We are committed to building 25 new high quality playgrounds for schools whose students have gone without adequate outdoor play spaces for far too long,” said Chancellor Klein. “Physical activity and constructive play not only promote a child’s health, strength and coordination, but also help in the development of social and cognitive skills. All of the children in our schools should have access to a safe, fun place to play and exercise during and after school. The Trust for Public Land’s generous contribution will help us achieve this goal.”

“It is so important for urban communities like ours to ensure that our children have great school playgrounds for outdoor sports and activities,” said Caroline Kennedy. “Through our partnership with the Trust for Public Land, 25 of our public schools will have the opportunity to work together with members of their surrounding communities to create new and innovative outdoor spaces for their school children.”

“Students at New York City schools need and deserve spaces where they can stretch their minds and their muscles,” said Rose Harvey, Senior Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Trust for Public Land. “This bold step by the Department of Education is a systematic approach to meeting the need for safe, accessible places for our children to play.”

TPL will manage the design and construction of the playgrounds as part of its City Spaces Program. Established in 1996, City Spaces creates new community playgrounds in city neighborhoods underserved in terms of recreational space. The program is dedicated to providing permanent, community-managed recreation spaces. City Spaces is a public-private partnership, involving the TPL, DOE and Parks & Recreation and local organizations. TPL has already successfully created nineteen community playgrounds throughout New York City and Newark, N.J.