Leading Change in New York City: Empty lot transformed into playground at school

Empty lot at P.S. 75 in Ridgewood has been transformed into a beautiful playground for the students and community
(Photos courtesy of The Trust for Public Land and New York City)

Project Integrates Green Infrastructure & Absorbs Rainfall

In the Ridgewood neighbourhood of New York City, a once-barren asphalt lot has been transformed into a state-of-the art playground complete with a unique green infrastructure. The site is at a school for 500 students from pre-K through Grade 12.

The 1-acre playground includes several green infrastructure elements, including specialized plantings and shade trees, porous pavement and permeable pavers, and a new synthetic turf field made of woven polyester filaments and featuring a broken stone storage layer and perforated distribution pipes to promote infiltration. The total cost of the playground is a little over $US1 million.

These features will help capture more than 375,000 US gallons of stormwater runoff each year.

“This new playground will provide students at P.S. 75 and the broader community with a new outdoor space to learn and play,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, the head of the New York City Department of Education. “We’re grateful to the Trust for Public Land and the Department of Environmental Protection for their partnership on this project, and look forward to continuing to work together to create more green spaces for students across the cities.”

To Learn More:

Download Empty lot transformed into playground at Ridgewood school