Astoria school opens student-designed green playground

The new P.S. 84 playground was designed with help from the school community. Photo courtesy of DEP

By Rachel Vick

An Astoria elementary school unveiled a student-designed, eco-friendly playground Friday.

The P.S. 84Q playground, designed with the Trust for Public Land’s participatory design process with teachers and students, will capture approximately 655,000 million gallons of stormwater

“During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers have recognized that parks and playgrounds are essential for mental and physical well-being,” said Carter Strickland, New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land. “This schoolyard has a new outdoor classroom so that students have the opportunity to safely study while connecting with classmates, and after school hours, it will be a critical community hub.”

The space-themed outdoor space includes an amphitheater style outdoor classroom, a track and other play equipment.

Permeable flooring, will reduce stormwater runoff that contaminates the nearby Bowery Bay and causes sewer overflow. Design elements to help absorb water include a synthetic turf field, and specially chosen plantings and trees — which also help local air quality.

This is the 23rd green playground created in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and TPL, and was created with funding from Con Edison and Queens elected officials.

It will be open to the public during non-school hours, serving nearly 18,000 residents within a 10 minute walk.

“We are proud to support this project which will provide recreational amenities and urban green space for the children who attend P.S. 84Q and the thousands more who live in the neighborhood,” said Frances A. Resheske, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs for ConEd. “Public spaces with green infrastructure play an important part in meeting the social and environmental health needs of New Yorkers.”