Dec. 13, 2022 By Christian Murray
City officials broke ground Monday on a $6.6 million upgrade to Maple Playground, a popular park located in downtown Flushing.
The revamp will see the children’s play area enlarged and relocated to the shaded east side of the park, and it will come with new play equipment and swings for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, along with a water play area and seating.
Meanwhile, the southern portion of the park will include the reconstruction of the basketball court with a new color seal coat and installation of three new ping pong tables.
“NYC Parks is excited to break ground on renovations that will transform Maple Playground in Downtown Flushing,” said Acting Parks Queens Commissioner Jackie Langsam. “The new design will ensure that there are different types of play space for the diverse park users, from the proposed play equipment to ping pong tables.”
The revamp will also see the drainage system upgraded. The existing drainage system will be fully reconstructed to eliminate ponding issues that currently plague the playground area.
“Maple Playground is an incredibly popular gathering spot,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “On any given day, it is bustling with seniors playing mahjong, families relaxing with their children, and residents just looking for a little open space in this densely packed neighborhood in the heart of Flushing. I look forward to the day when it reopens and residents can enjoy this renovated open space and all of its new amenities.”