NYC Parks Breaks Ground on New Park at Asser Levy Place

NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White today joined City Council Member Daniel Garodnick, State Senators Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger, State Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, Manhattan Community Board 6 Chair Sandro Sherrod, United Nations Development Corp. Vice President Frances Huppert, and neighborhood residents to break ground on a new park at Asser Levy Place.

"NYC Parks is pleased to transform an underutilized former roadway into a vibrant park," said NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. "Thanks to funds from Council Member Garodnick and the UN Development Corporation, New Yorkers of all ages and abilities will enjoy the new recreational amenities being built at Asser Levy Place."

"Asser Levy presents an historic opportunity to transform an underutilized street into a valued neighborhood park," said Council Member Dan Garodnick. "Not only will we gain a new running track, ball fields and recreational space, but this is also the first key piece of a broader neighborhood plan that will ultimately create a vibrant waterfront esplanade along the East River."

The new park will be located at a former underutilized two-block stretch of road, adjacent to Asser Levy Playground, and Asser Levy Recreation Center and Pool. It will serve as the replacement for parkland alienated through the development of a new United Nations building at Robert Moses Playground.

This new park space will contain a diverse mix of outdoor recreational opportunities. Neighborhood residents of all ages and abilities will be able to play ping pong, badminton, volleyball, chess, soccer, football, t-ball, exercise, jog, practice yoga or enjoy some shaded seating on a former two-block-long street. New park features will include an artificial turf field, exercise track, adult fitness equipment, benches, tables, drinking fountains, park lighting and trees.

The project was funded with allocations of $1,175,000 from City Council Member Daniel Garodnick and $500,000 from the UN Development Corporation. It is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2014.

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney.