QUEENS — A large portion of Real Good Park in Rego Park, which closed for renovations several months ago, won’t open before the end of summer, upsetting local parents who said they rely heavily on its playground.
The $860,000 renovations at the 1.6-acre park, located between the Horace Harding Expressway and 62nd Avenue and between 99th and 102nd streets, started about two months ago, the Parks Department said.
Once complete, the playground will feature new play equipment, a spray shower, benches and a game table, according to the agency. It will also have improved drainage and new asphalt pavement and plantings.
But local parents said that construction work appears to be stalled.
“It’s been going so slow,” said Olga Danzig, who lives nearby and used to come to the playground at Real Good Park with her toddler daughter. “There are so many families with kids in this neighborhood and we were hoping to use this playground during summertime but nothing is happening.”
The closed portion of Real Good Park contained swings, playground climbers, a spray shower and benches. The only part that currently remains open features basketball courts and several swings.
A large portion of Real Good Park in Rego Park closed for renovations several months ago. (DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska)
Danzig said local families now flock to nearby 1.3-acre Horace Harding Playground, on 62nd Drive, between 97th Place and 98th Street. But locals said it's too small to meet the needs of families in the neighborhood.
“It's summer time and the heavy populated area needs the park for the kids to enjoy it, specially the water sprinkle,” another local resident said in an email sent to DNAinfo New York.
Parks Department spokeswoman Meghan Lalor wrote in an email that the project is scheduled to be complete in spring 2017, but the agency hopes to open it ahead of schedule.
“We apologize for any inconvenience to the community while we make important improvements to Real Good Park,” Lalor said. “The project is underway, Parks is in regular contact with the contractor, and we are looking to open even sooner than our stated completion target of Spring 2017.”
