Travers Park

Parks Cuts Ribbon On Improvements To Travers Playground

IMMEDIATE
Thursday, August 19, 2010
No. 69
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

Today, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Congressman Joe Crowley, Council Member Daniel Dromm, former Council Member Helen Sears, Community Board 3 District Manager Giovanna Reid and neighborhood kids cut the ribbon on nearly $2 million in renovations at Travers Park.

“The Jackson Heights community has very little green space compared to most neighborhoods, and Travers Park is an extremely heavily used by a very diverse and supportive community. We are grateful the City Council and Mayor Bloomberg allocated almost $2 million to improve the play equipment and expand its features to allow more children to enjoy the park,” said Parks Commissioner Benepe. “We added a beautiful leaf and vine spray shower, made the playground ADA compliant, installed a bike rack and new benches, and greened the park through the addition of attractive new plantings.”

Thanks to $1.5 million allocated by Council Member Helen Sears, Council Member Dromm’s predecessor, and $317,000 from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Travers Park’s tree house-themed play equipment has been renovated and expanded to include a leaf and vine spray shower. The playground is fully-ADA compliant and is appropriate for children aged 5 to 10 years old. New benches, a bike rack, water fountain and landscaping were added.

This park is named in honor of memory of Thomas J. Travers (1897-1958), a prominent Queens Democrat and Jackson Heights community leader. Travers also served in the US Navy for the duration of World War I. Travers Park had its last renovation in 1995, which included new play equipment for tots and older children, new spray shower area, trees, picnic and game tables, and security lighting. The basketball courts were refurbished and the roller hockey court was repaved.

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CONTACT: Vickie Karp/Trish Bertuccio (212) 360-1311