On Thursday, Councilman David G. Greenfield joined with Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey, Program Officer for Borough President Adams Sandra Chapman, and Community Board 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer to break ground on new renovations to the two-thirds of Gravesend Park that have not been touched in over 30 years. These renovations will include four new playgrounds, two new swing sets, brand new basketball and paddle-ball courts and a new baseball field. Several years ago then-Councilman Simcha Felder funded the renovations of the first third of the park. When Greenfield’s renovations are complete, the entire park will be brand new.

“Here in Brooklyn, we don’t have backyards or front yards. Instead we have our city parks. That’s why I am so proud to have made building parks my top priority as a Councilman,” explained Councilman David G. Greenfield. “Parks are the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re a billionaire or if you’re on food stamps: you’re using our parks. It’s something that benefits everyone. So I’m really thrilled today that the park that I grew up playing in is seeing an amazing renovation. I’m especially pleased to have partnered with Senator Felder to get this done.”

The construction includes doubling the size of the playground with swings and new play equipment, completely reconstructing and re-aligning the baseball fields and creation of new basketball and handball courts. A renovated seating area, new benches and lighting complete the project. The renovations are expected to be complete by the end of 2016.

“I applaud Council Member Greenfield in his efforts to improve and enhance the Parks in his district,” said Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey. “This is a district that has a large population, and unfortunately, a dearth of park land. The Council Member has made over 17 million dollars in allocations to our parks here in your district. That is leveraged from the Mayor, the Borough President and other places for another $6 million for a grand total of $23 million thanks to Council Member David Greenfield.”

“I would really like to thank Councilman Greenfield for allocating millions of dollars to this park. Gravesend Park, or as people in Borough Park call it the 18th Avenue Park, is the premier park in Boro Park,” said Community Board 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer. “This is really great and I’m so happy for the community. Incredibly, Councilman Greenfield is already in the City Council for five years, he is on the Budget Negotiating Team, the Leadership Team and he chairs the all-important Land Use Committee but his top priority is to improve the quality of life in his district.”

Every single park in Greenfield’s district across Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst has either received upgrades or is in the process of being renovated thanks to Greenfield’s capital allocations. Recently the Parks department completed a renovation to the handball and basketball courts in Colonel David Marcus Park on Avenue P. In addition to this project, Councilman Greenfield secured funding for the renovation of Ocean Parkway Malls which was completed a few months ago. Greenfield and Felder also teamed up on the new playground at PS 192 on 18th Avenue. Greenfield is also in the process of improving Friends Field on Avenue L, Seth Low Park on Bay Parkway, DiGilio Playground on Avenue F and Kolbert Park on Avenue L.

(YWN Desk – NYC)