A Decade After Requested, Playground Revamp Begins

LITTLE NECK, QUEENS — The city broke ground on a Little Neck playground reconstruction on Thursday that's been a "priority" for northeast Queens constituents since 2010.

More than a decade ago, Community Board 11, which represents areas of northeast Queens including Bayside and Little Neck, named the Challenge Playground revamp as one of its three major funding requests, Patch reported.

After discussions between the city's Department of Education and Parks Department about which agency would lead the construction effort, the Parks Department began the playground redesign in 2018, and finally broke ground this week — two months after the agency initially planned to start construction. The playground is currently slated to be finished by May 2022.

State Senator John Liu, who represents the area and was present at Thursday's ceremonial ground breaking, thanked local officials and the Parks Department for getting this project "started and completed quickly," adding that it's "long time to rebuilt this important public asset."

"Children and families are spending more and more time outdoors. It’s great for health and well-being, mental and physical," he said.

NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Michael Dockett, who was also present on Thursday, said that the playgrounds renovations will make the playground a "more inclusive and accessible greenspace."

The $3 million renovations will rebuild the existing Challenge Playground with new sensory play equipment, swings, and spray showers.

The new sensory play equipment will include elements that make different sounds, have touchable textures, and can be moved to make fun shadow effects.

The upgrades will also include new seating and picnic areas, and a repaved pathway to make accessing the playground easier.

Council Member Grodenchik and Borough President Donovan Richards financially supported the project.