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NYC Playgrounds Program

Photo: Marni Horwitz

The Trust for Public Land is working to provide safe places to play within a ten-minute walk of every child in New York City.

Fewer than half of New York City's public elementary schools have usable playgrounds for the 628,000 students they serve. Many schools have little more than barren asphalt lots for play areas.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is working to transform these vacant school lots into vibrant playgrounds and community parks. The effort is in partnership with the City of New York as part of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030.

Learn more with a video featuring junior architects leading the design of P.S. 78's future playground in the Bronx.

This program will create more than 200 acres of safe, new parkland and provide neighborhood places for more than 380,000 children to play, exercise, and socialize with family and friends.

TPL's Playgrounds Program will create:

• 151 playgrounds & community parks
• 380,000 smiling faces of children served & their families
• 200 acres of new city parkland

A Successful Track Record

The Trust for Public Land is working to create safe, accessible parks where every child in New York City can exercise their mind and muscles.

Focusing on communities that are underserved by parks, our efforts add trees, gardens, tracks, sports fields, courts, outdoor classrooms, chess and picnic tables, and much more to these new public spaces. Prior to this expanded partnership with the City of New York, TPL completed 28 community playgrounds.

Participatory design session at P.S. 130, the Bronx. Photo: Troy Farmer

Designed by Kids and the Community

Participatory design is the cornerstone of The Trust for Public Land's Playgrounds Program. At each site, we facilitate a participatory design process that includes students, school staff, and community members.

TPL will conduct the participatory design process for 123 playgrounds. In addition, at up to 28 of these sites, TPL will integrate the design process with classroom learning and afterschool programs and will manage the construction process.

An important part of the design process is planning for the use and care of the new playgrounds. We work with community partners to run programs at the playgrounds and to keep them open to the public after school and on weekends. These groups are integral to the success of the playgrounds, keeping them active and safe year-round and allowing the neighborhood to fully utilize them.

The result of our work at all 151 sites will be playgrounds that transform the lives of both the children and adults in the community.

"Over the summer kids stay at home playing video games because the nearest playground is too far away. After TPL started doing this in the communities, it's now a five-minute walk. If they keep doing this, there won't be a problem with kids finding parks to play in." - Kevin Fich, participatory design student at P.S. 246 in the Bronx

"The future of our city depends on our taking the appropriate action now. We must ensure that all New Yorkers live within a ten-minute walk of a park or playground." - New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

A child plays at P.S. 180/Steven Pabai Memorial Playground in Harlem, NYC. Photo: Avery Wham

Your Support is Critical

Today, in partnership with Mayor Bloomberg's administration, The Trust for Public Land is expanding its successful Parks for People-New York City program. Throughout the five boroughs and in some of the most overlooked communities in the city, this program will be creating safe spaces for children to come together, benefiting 380,000 children citywide.

Such a significant change requires committed investment.

The Trust for Public Land is seeking $10 million in private gifts to leverage more than $100 million in public capital funds that the city will make available for this program.

With this historic investment from the city, now is the time to truly change the landscape of New York City.

We need your help and are counting on contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to make this work possible.

For More Information

To find out more about this bold initiative and how you can be a part of transforming New York City, contact Jill Nevins, or (212) 677-7171, ext. 207.

Overhead shot of P.S. 274 Kosciuszko Community Playground in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, NYC before and after TPL renovations. Photos: Julieth Rivera

Through our Parks for People initiative, The Trust for Public Land works to ensure that everyone-in particular every child-enjoys easy access to a park, playground, or open space. Through Parks for People-New York City, TPL has helped create, expand, and steward more than 290 parks, gardens, and natural areas. The permanent protection of more than 620 acres and the design, construction, and stewardship of these sites is valued at approximately $200 million.

Updated 2009

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FILE ATTACHMENTS:

NYC Playground Brochure

Major Donors to NYC Playgrounds Program