Two Coney Island playgrounds to see major renovations in 2016

Two Coney playgrounds will be getting some much-needed R&R – revamps and renovations – this year.

According to Councilmember Mark Treyger’s office, Nautilus Playground, located near the Riegelmann Boardwalk (West 29^th and West 32^nd Streets) and Poseidon Playground, located on Surf Avenue between West 25^th and West 27^th Streets, will be receiving a series of upgrades through Superstorm Sandy recovery funding secured by Treyger and NYC Parks.

“Residents of our coastal communities deserve to get back everything that they lost as a result of Superstorm Sandy’s devastation,” said Treyger. “There is no question that the people affected by this storm need their homes, hospitals, schools and libraries back. But they also need safe, clean, parks and playgrounds with working amenities and facilities, and we should be using Sandy money to get these projects done. All of us deserve to be able to enjoy the fresh air of the outdoors. Our children deserve places to play sports, get some exercise, and be kids, just as our senior citizens need and deserve a spot to sit outside and socialize.”

Renovations for Nautilus Playground will include construction of a new basketball court area with small bleachers, renovation of the comfort station, reconstruction of play equipment and safety surfacing (both already completed), asphalt paving, installation of an accessible drinking fountain and landscaping upgrades.

Poseidon Playground will see the removal of existing stumps, planting of new trees, painting of handball court walls and lines, repair and painting of the spray shower, repair and painting of benches and fences, and the addition of new painted ground games. The renovations for both playgrounds are scheduled to be complete by June.

“Parks is always proud to partner with our local elected officials to make our public green spaces the best they can be,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver. “The changes to both Nautilus and Poseidon Playgrounds will offer even more top quality amenities to the families in Councilmember Treyger’s district, and we look forward to their completion.”

Treyger has repeatedly called on the city to ensure that Southern Brooklyn parks, playgrounds and recreational spaces get their fair share of attention, and has constantly advocated for Superstorm Sandy-related funding to be used for repairing parks in the district damaged by the storm.

In total, Treyger was able to secure nearly $1.7 million in funding (between city budget allocations and $570,000 from FEMA) for Nautilus Playground.

Treyger has also been vocal about other parks in his district needing funding. In October, he stood with NYC Parks and the city’s Community Parks Initiative (CPI) to announce a $5.4 million allocation for Gravesend’s Lafayette Playground and $4.5 million awarded to Bensonhurst’s Lt. Joseph Petrosino Park for renovations; and in December, he announced Scarangella Park in Gravesend was receiving $2.4 million in funding, which he was able to secure in the city budget along with $1 million secured by State Senator Diane Savino.