Brownsville's Betsy Head Park Will Get $30 Million in Improvements

BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN — Betsy Head Park, famous as one of the neighborhood's largest (and, in recent years, shabbiest) public green spaces, has been selected as one of five New York City "anchor parks" to receive $30 million for major improvements, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday at St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx.

The Anchor Parks initiative, as the city is calling it, will divide $150 million in taxpayer money between five major parks in each of NYC's five boroughs: Saint Mary’s Park in the South Bronx; Highbridge Park in Manhattan; Astoria Park in Queens; Freshkills Park on Staten Island; and Betsy Head Park in Brooklyn.

All five of these parks, city officials explained Thursday, serve as community "anchors" for the 750,000 New Yorkers who live within walking distance of each.

Residents will be able to help choose how to spend the $30 million allotted to Betsy Head Park at community outreach sessions coming up this fall, according to the NYC Parks Department.

"Wow! This is a long-overdue investment in one of our landmark parks, and right on time for Betsy Head Park," said Viola Walker, district manager for Community Board 16, which represents the Brownsville and Ocean Hill neighborhoods.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, a Brownsville native, called Betsy Head a "crown jewel" of the city's New Deal-era parks that has been "shamefully allowed to deteriorate" over time.

Below, his statement in full.

“Many happy hours have been spent playing in Betsy Head Park, enjoying this invaluable recreational space for the children and families of my beloved home of Brownsville. Unfortunately, this treasured open space — once a crown jewel of the New Deal-era parks renovated in New York City — has been shamefully allowed to deteriorate, depriving underserved families of a safe, comfortable place to play and enjoy the outdoors. Long-awaited capital improvements will dramatically improve the quality of life for Betsy Head Park’s patrons and visitors, many of whom cannot travel elsewhere for recreation, as well as will support my administration’s ongoing efforts to invest resources in neighborhood parks that have historically been neglected.”

Betsy Head Park was built in 1915, and named after a wealthy British immigrant — a widow who, in her will, gifted part of her fortune to the City of New York to construct public recreational spaces.

Upon its completion, Betsy Head was seen as a national gold standard — complete with a playground, garden, bath house, running track, swimming pool and tennis courts. The park underwent a series of renovations and improvements over the past century, but has fallen back into disrepair since its most recent upgrade in 2001.