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$500,000 Allocated Towards New Playground at Amsterdam Houses

$500,000 Allocated Towards New Playground at Amsterdam Houses

November 20, 2024 Community No Comments

It was all smiles on Wednesday at The Amsterdam Early Childhood Education Center (206 West 64th Street) as children celebrated the news of a new playground, funded by a $500,000 grant from the New York State Community Resilience, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program. The playground is situated at the Amsterdam Houses, a New York City Housing Authority apartment building.

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State Senator Brad Holyman-Sigal made the announcement while standing in front of a trio of child-sized basketball hoops and a soccer goal—the only amenities the current playground offers.

Holyman-Sigal explained that the funding would be used to repave the cracked and uneven blacktop, install a new fence around the area, and add playground equipment to make the space more suitable for young children. “The playground and yard are going to be open to members of the NYCHA Amsterdam Houses community when the early childhood education center is in its off hours,” said Holyman-Sigal.

Holyman presented a commemorative $250,000 check to Yvette Powell, president of the tenants association at Amsterdam Houses, and Tiffany Roberson, deputy executive director of early childhood, youth, teen, and young adult programming at Hudson Guild—a community-based social services organization founded in 1895 that manages the Amsterdam Early Childhood Education Center (206 West 64th Street). When Holyman-Sigal asked the children in attendance if they were excited about a new playground, cheers and applause erupted.

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Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins was expected to attend to present the other $250,000, but something came up last minute, and she was unable to be there. Holyman-Sigal noted that Stewart-Cousins grew up in the Amsterdam Houses nearly 60 years ago, and even then, the playground was in poor condition. The funding coming to fix the dilapidated space had been a long time coming.

The current timetable for when the project will start and the estimated completion date are is still being worked out.

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About The Author

bobby-panza

Bobby attended Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, where he studied journalism and wrote for local children’s magazine Moo Cow Fan Club.

Years later while living in New York City, trudging home on a dour January day, Bobby read his favorite bookstore, the venerable Westsider Rare and Used Books, would soon close its doors due to ballooning rent. The owner was quoted saying the only thing that could save his shop was if someone raised $50,000 but doubted anyone would do it. Bobby immediately sprang into action, wanting to show the owner that someone would indeed answer the call.

Single-handedly launching a viral online fundraising campaign that reached far beyond New York City, Bobby helped raise the money in just four days, with the bookstore’s saga receiving coverage in the New York Times and NBC. Having spent years exploring Westsider’s cramped and cozy aisles, it warmed Bobby’s heart seeing people come together to save something they truly loved.

A proud Upper West Side local, you can typically find Bobby in Riverside Park, at the New York Philharmonic, or recording poetry for his YouTube Channel, Bobby Slam, in his beloved Westsider Books.

You can also follow Bobby on Twitter and Instagram.

Bobby is also a regular contributor for EastSideFeed.com. His articles for this publication can be viewed here.

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