A Harlem Park Is Getting A $5M Makeover, Manhattan Borough President Says

HARLEM, NY — Every time it rains, Jackie Robinson Playground in Harlem turns into a soggy mess, with flooded fields that put the ballgames on hold. But now, a multi-million dollar overhaul is in the works to finally fix the problem for good.

On Wednesday, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine allocated $2.3 million in funding from his 2026 budget to be put toward a complete revamp of the park, he exclusively told Patch.

This follows previous funding amounts of $1.5 million from the City Council's budget and another $1.2 million previously contributed from Levine's budget, making the project's funding complete at $5 million.

"With this project fully funded, we are fulfilling a promise to this community and to future generations of New Yorkers who love Jackie Robinson Park," Levine told Patch.

"This community has long fought for needed renovations, and now we can begin the work and say goodbye to the sinkholes and flooded fields, and hello to a park this community deserves."

Levine said the renovation will include a full reconstruction of the ballfields to add drainage, remove sinkholes, increase lighting, and upgrade electrical and water utilities.

The new, planned drainage will help redirect and slow down stormwater so city drains aren't overwhelmed during heavy rainfall, Levine said.

The Jackie Robinson Playground has many uses — it has been home to the Harlem Little League for more than 20 years, soccer practice, dance practice, and is used as a respite for families who live in the Polo Grounds Towers, a local public housing complex that borders the north end of the park.

"So this park is being utilized by the community in the Polo Grounds, and it is an underserved community," Sonya Simmons, the director of Jackie Robinson Park Conservancy, told Patch.

"So we're so happy to hear about this allotment, because we have a huge drainage problem when it rains, and it just needs upgrading. It's been a long time coming."

Now that the funding has been secured, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will create plans and a timeline for construction. Patch will continue to track the renovation's progress as it moves through the various stages of capital projects.

The Parks department said the design process for the reconstruction of the park will likely begin in the 2026 fiscal year.

This article has been updated with information from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.