By Curtis Brodner
(NEW YORK) New York City will spend $31 million on a new park in Williamsburg and renovations in three existing parks, the Brooklyn Paper reported.
“Increasing access to open space and improving parkland is integral to building healthy communities,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, per the Brooklyn Paper. “These four projects set to begin work in Brooklyn reflect our effort to continuously invest in our neighborhoods and offer New Yorkers much needed respite and recreation.”
The new park in Williamsburg, dubbed 50 Kent, will expand Bushwick Inlet Park. It will replace the vacant lot between N. 11th and N. 12th streets with a 2-acre green space.
50 Kent, like the rest of Inlet Park, was formerly waterfront manufacturing space.
The city started the project in 2018, but construction stopped in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic budget cuts. With this new cash infusion, the Parks Department expects 50 Kent to be open to the public by April of 2022.
Early designs depict a park with a waterfront view of Manhattan, picnic areas and fountains for children to play in.
The city is also investing in new play equipment, seating and landscaping for LaGuardia Playground in Williamsburg.
The city is installing new artificial turf, a stage, an exercise area and a new water system in Dumbo’s Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park. These projects are also slated for an April 2022 finish.
Callahan Kelly Playground by Broadway Junction is getting a new skate park and entrances. These upgrades should be completed by April of 2023.