Speaker Adrienne Adams, Community Leaders Celebrate NYC Council’s $5.1 Million Investment to Renovate Sutphin Playground

Capital funding allocation for first phase of reconstruction project will deliver new play area, benches, plaza, and other features

Jamaica, NY - Today, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams celebrated the Council's capital funding allocation of $5.1 million in the City's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget to renovate Sutphin Playground in her district. Joined by Queens Parks Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam, Baisley Park Gardens Tenant Association leaders, and PS 223Q Principal Tekesha Babb, Speaker Adams hosted the check presentation to signify the start of the multi-phase reconstruction project. The Council's $5.1 million investment will kick off the first phase, which includes renovating the children's play area, benches, plaza, flagpole, and more. The second phase would include reconstructed basketball courts and adult fitness equipment.

"Our neighborhood parks and playgrounds are critical public spaces where we gather with neighbors, exercise, and spend time with our families," said Speaker Adrienne Adams. "I'm proud to celebrate the Council's $5.1 million investment to renovate Sutphin Playground, which serves the residents of Baisley Park Gardens and the PS 223Q school community. This capital funding will kick off the first phase of the reconstruction project, which includes a new children's play area, benches, plaza, flagpole, and other upgrades. I thank our community partners, local leaders, and the Parks Department for their collaboration on this vital project."

Located within Baisley Pond Park, Sutphin Playground was last renovated in 1997. That $859,000 capital project included the addition of a giant mastodon sculpture, which pays homage to a mid-19th century discovery of the remains of an American Mastodon by Brooklyn city workers at the bottom of Baisley Pond. The playground currently features play equipment, safety surfacing, a sitting area, a spray shower, a basketball court, swing sets, and a drinking fountain.

In addition to the renovation of Sutphin Playground, Baisley Pond Park is currently undergoing several capital improvement projects, including the reconstruction of its track, synthetic turf field, and the addition of sports lighting, the reconstruction of its paths, and an overhaul of the 157th Street Playground's multi-purpose play area.

"These important, phased upgrades to Sutphin Playground will provide a revitalized and engaging play space for the entire community to enjoy, with further amenities and improvements to come," said NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam. "We are so grateful to Speaker Adams and the City Council for their critical support making this and other ongoing capital projects in Baisley Pond Park possible, and we look forward to holding a community input meeting in the upcoming year."

"On behalf of Baisley Park Gardens Tenant Association, we extend heartfelt gratitude to Speaker Adrienne Adams for securing funding for our Sutphin Playground," said Charmell Cooper-Banks, President of the Baisley Park Gardens Tenant Association, "a vibrant oasis that will empower our children to grow, learn, thrive, and play in a beautiful, safe space."

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