Work Starts On $4.5M Renovation Of Astoria's Chappetto Square

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Construction started this month on a $4.5 million facelift of Chappetto Square in Astoria, one of the public spaces known as the Triborough Bridge Playgrounds.

The one-year project will add four Ecuavóley courts for the Ecuadorian version of volleyball and net-less posts to allow players to set up their own games, according to a parks department spokesperson.

New asphalt pavement, landscaping and greenery, pedestrian lighting, fencing, drinking fountains and shaded seating areas will also be part of the multimillion-dollar renovation.

Mayor Bill de Blasio funded the project under his citywide community parks initiative launched in 2014.

The renovation is scheduled to wrap up by August 2020.

Chappetto Square is one of seven play spaces that make up the Triborough Bridge Playgrounds, which were developed by the polarizing power broker Robert Moses after he took control of the Triborough Bridge Authority in 1934.

The square is named in honor of Astoria resident Peter Chappetto, who was killed in World War II.