5 Beat Up Queens Fields Set to Get New Turf

The soccer field at Grover Cleveland Playground in Queens will get a new synthetic turf surface. Photo by NYC Parks.

By David Brand

Good news for knees and ankles across Queens: five ailing parks and fields will get new turf surfaces as part of a $27 million allocation to the Parks Department.

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver announced the projects Monday. Overall, eight fields citywide were selected based on an assessment process that reviewed conditions, scope of work and project cost estimation.

The five Queens parks set to undergo a renovation are Grover Cleveland Playground in Ridgewood, Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s field 8 and field 9, Pals Oval in Ozone Park and St. Michael’s Playground in Woodside.

"These upgrades will allow families and athletes alike to take advantage of valuable recreational public spaces," said District 23 Councilmember Barry S. Grodenchik, chair of the City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation.

Grover Cleveland Park was particularly ragged, with a thin layer of turf carpet tearing off the concrete beneath. In certain places, the threadbare turf was worn away to reveal the hard surface, posing a danger to players.

Overall, Parks has installed about 160 turf fields in New York City.

Councilmember Peter Koo hailed the allocation of funds and noted that soccer is one of the most popular sports in Flushing, the neighborhood he represents.

“The soccer fields in Flushing are some of the most frequently used open spaces in our community, offering a rare synthetic turf experience for thousands of athletes across the city,” Koo said. These renovations will extend the lifespan of these popular playfields well into the future.”