The new play equipment at Penn Triangle. Image Credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

The renovations include new play equipment and trees. On March 15, 2021, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Prospect Park Alliance announced the completion of the Penn Triangle reconstruction in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The project is a part of the Community Parks Initiative, which aims to create thriving equitable public places through the reconstruction of smaller local parks.

The Penn Triangle was originally developed as a sitting area for the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The park was originally constructed on the site of the expressway in 1996. The Community Parks Initiative reconstruction has been the first significant investment in the park since its construction. The Park is also named for the adjacent street, Penn Street.

The Community Parks Initiative is a $318 million investment in smaller local parks in New York City. The initiative aims to assist the public parks located in New York City’s densely populated and growing neighborhoods with higher than average rates of poverty. This project cost $1.7 million and was funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

As a part of the reconstruction the triangle had new play equipment, safety surfacing, planting beds, and shade trees all installed. The new design was made by the Prospect Park Alliance pro bono. The Penn Triangle is the second Community Parks Initiative project that the Prospect Park Alliance has designed pro bono, the first being the Stroud Playground in Crown Heights. The Prospect Park Alliance has also completed the design for the Epiphany Playground in Williamsburg, construction on that park will begin later this year as it is still in the procurement phase.

NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher stated, “We are pleased to share that this park has been reopened to the public especially as green spaces have proven to be so vital throughout this pandemic. We are grateful for our partners at Prospect Park Alliance for bringing the community’s vision to life with their transformative design and hope that this small, community park will be treasured for years to come.”

Sue Donoghue, President of Prospect Park Alliance stated, “Prospect Park Alliance has an award-winning team of landscape architects and designers, and we’re pleased to be able to share our expertise to help revitalize this playground in the South Williamsburg community. This small park now features new play structures and amenities—sure to be an outdoor enhancement when we all need it most.”

By: Patrick McNeill (Patrick is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2022.)