Photo Flash: NYC Parks Opens Two Newly Refurbished Handball Courts in Manhattan, Brooklyn

NYC Parks and Fairway Community Foundation are pleased to cut the ribbon on renovated handball courts at Chelsea Park in Manhattan and Coffey Park in Brooklyn. On Tuesday, August 23rd, Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP joined the Fairway Community Foundation and local elected officials to cut the ribbon at Chelsea Park, and today, Parks' Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey joined the Foundation, as well as City Council Member Carlos Menchaca to cut the ribbon on Coffey Park. Scroll down for photos!

"Handball is deeply ingrained in the New York City park experience, offering a unique and fun way to exercise and play. And thanks to the renovations funded by Fairway Community Foundation, the courts at Coffey and Chelsea Parks received a needed facelift," said Commissioner Silver. "We are excited to see the community make use of these new courts and we are pleased to be able to open them during the summer months. Parks is always proud to partner with local businesses and organizations to make improvements to parks, and this project with the Fairway Community Foundation was no exception."

The Fairway Community Foundation Board of Directors stated: "We are proud and honored to be a part in renovating these two parks. Big thank you to NYC Parks for making it happen. We can't wait to see all the generations of New Yorkers enjoying these parks every day for many years to come."

"I'm thrilled to see this outstanding improvement to Chelsea Park," said Council Member Corey Johnson. "In Chelsea, we need to maximize every inch of park space that we have, and that's exactly what this project accomplishes. I cannot wait to see my constituents take advantage of these newly improved, top-of-the-line handball courts. My deepest gratitude goes to the Fairway Community Foundation for funding these renovations, and to NYC Parks for their exceptional work on this project."

"Let's play ball! Handball is a sport that runs deep in Red Hook. These newly renovated handball courts are a welcomed blessing for Red Hook residents of all ages that will also help beautify our public spaces," said Council Member Menchaca. "Thank you to Fairway and Parks. Let the fun begin!"

With $127k in funding, Fairway Community Foundation renovated the handball courts at Chelsea Park in Manhattan and Coffey Park in Brooklyn over six weeks. At Chelsea Park, 6 handball court walls were stripped, patched, painted and re-striped. The court pavements were re-lined. 2' x 10' section of handball mesh was repaired.At Coffey Park, 4 handball court walls were stripped, patched, painted and re-striped. The expansion joints in the court pavements were cleaned and re-caulked, and the court pavements were re-lined.

Fairway was looking to refurbish a part of a park that is "quintessential New York City", and chose handball courts.

The Fairway Community Foundation aims to empower and invest in the people and places that make our communities great. Forged in the trailblazing spirit of Fairway Market, the Foundation serves up big ideas for a big city, pulling together some of the hardest workers and brightest thinkers in our community to cook up unique, innovative projects that say thanks in bold new ways.

Acquired by Parks more than 100 years ago, Chelsea Park remains one of the most popular and widely used parks in lower Manhattan. With basketball courts, baseball diamonds, multi-purpose asphalt surfaces, and plenty of space to sit down and take a break, be sure you bring your best game.

Coffey Park, named for Michael J. Coffey (1839-1907) - the former state senator, alderman, and district leader representing Red Hook - has a spray shower, play equipment with safety surfacing, swings for children, benches, game tables, picnic tables, basketball courts, an asphalt baseball diamond with a backstop, two flagpoles with yardarms, hippopotamus animal art, and crocodile-shaped benches.

Photo Credit: Malcolm Pinckney/NYC Parks; Chelsea Park