The ceremony at the Cunningham Park new woodland themed. Photo courtesy
Today, NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmember Linda Lee and members of the Queens community to cut the ribbon on the newly reconstructed playground 210th Street playground in Cunningham Park.
“The transformation of the 210th street playground in Cunningham Park is a dynamic, fun and inviting new green space for children and adults to enjoy,” said NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam. “With funding from the Borough President and the City Council we are excited to see parks like this come alive providing the engaging amenities that New Yorkers deserve. The upgraded play features, improved seating and plantings, and additional security lighting will allow this playground to serve as a focal point for the community for years to come.”
“Anyone who’s walked through Cunningham Park knows it feels more like a forest than it does part of the five boroughs, so it only makes sense that the children of Oakland Gardens have a state-of-the-art new woodland themed 210th Street Playground to enjoy,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Investing in our parks is about more than just new playing surfaces, however. It’s about giving families positive and productive places to socialize, grow, and bond with their neighbors and the outdoors. As both the Borough President and the father of a nine-year-old, I couldn’t be prouder to have allocated $44 million to our parks since taking office, and I look forward to continue growing our partnership with NYC Parks in the years to come.”
“It is a privilege to attend today’s ribbon cutting of the renovated 210th Street Playground. These new fixtures and equipment will serve our community for years to come,” said New York City Councilmember Linda Lee. “Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and I thank our predecessors Melinda Katz and Barry Grodenchik for their funding of this project. Preserving and improving our public spaces is a baton that is passed across the generations of our community and its elected officials.”
A $3.8M total investment, with $3 million from the Borough President’s Office and $800 thousand from City Council, transformed the playground and surrounding greenspace with new playground equipment, updated seating and game tables, spray showers, and much more.
The new playground features brand-new play equipment for all ages, with separate jungle gyms for children aged 2-5 and more challenging equipment for children aged 5-12. The engaging woodland theme of the playground reflects the beautiful Forever Wild forest in Cunningham Park, featuring a log cabin-style treehouse, boulders for climbing, and interactive ways for children to learn about the local flora and fauna.
A new spray shower area will keep parkgoers cool in the summer, while new shade trees will provide parents and visitors with plenty of space to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Updated bike racks, game tables, seating areas, and freshly paved surfaces ensure the space remains a vital retreat for visitors to Cunningham Park. Security lighting and restructured entrance paths prioritize safety and ease of use, while allowing room for the surrounding trees and new plantings to thrive.
The Borough Presidents Office committed $3 million to the project in 2020 under then Borough President Melinda Katz, as well as $800 thousand from then Councilmember Barry Grodenchik.
