NYC Parks is seeking Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approval for a $2.83 million reconstruction of St. Mark’s Playground, a 0.263-acre mid-block park on St. Mark’s Avenue between Kingston and Albany Avenues in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The in-house Parks design team is leading the project under the agency’s Community Parks Initiative, with capital funding provided by Mayor Eric Adams.
Project goals center on expanding play opportunities for children, integrating the playground into its historic streetscape, and improving visibility and safety while recalling the site’s 1969 M. Paul Friedberg design with contemporary materials and accessibility features. The proposal would also set a sidewalk precedent for the rest of the block by coordinating treatment with NYC DOT.
Plans introduce separate 2-to-5-year-old and 5-to-12-year-old play zones, a small spray-shower and sensory play area, new seating, shade trees, and security lighting. Surrounding sidewalks would be rebuilt in “Landmarks Gray” concrete with a 24-inch sawn-joint grid, complemented by reclaimed-granite inlays and colored concrete cubes that echo Friedberg’s original forms.
Transit nearby the playground includes the Kingston–Throop Avenues station, served by the A and C trains and Kingston Avenue station, served by the 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains.
The LPC is set to review the proposal on August 5.
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mid block playgrounds/parks/markets/etc should be standard throughout the city, it’s great traffic calming and makes the neighborhood more pleasant.
I never knew about this park or mid-block placement. It’s a great idea but the existing park is more like a paved lot. More greenery is needed for sure.
I suppose given it’s NYC, the rebuild will cost $500 million and take 8 years. Gotta keep those suburban family members on the payroll.
Never knew this existed either, which is weird considering it’s right down the street from the BK Childrens Museum. Very cool. And yes, there should be more of these throughout the city. Looking forward to seeing the construction.
How about greenery? Why does NYC have so many gritty paved over public spaces?
The landmark commission needs to approve a playground renovation? Death by paperwork…