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Connected Communities Partners Top Story 

Assembly Funding Earmarked for New Park Sites at Pomonok Houses 

Vincent Echavaria

On July 16, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Sam Berger announced a commitment of more than $2.5 million in funding to develop new park space for the Pomonok Houses community in Queens. 

The State officials were joined by representatives from NYCHA, resident leaders, and community members to highlight the $2.53 million investment to the nonprofit Public Housing Community Fund that will help expand open-space access at the development, where more than 3,900 residents live. Plans call for multi-use recreational features, including a new children’s play space, barbeque area and seating plaza, intergenerational fitness area, and basketball court scoreboard and bleachers. 

Following a summer walk-through of the proposed park sites, Speaker Heastie said: “On a hot day like this we’re reminded that every community should have easy access to outdoor green spaces. Assemblymember Berger understands the benefit this park will have on this community and fought hard to ensure the funding was available to make it happen.”   

Assemblymember Berger, who represents the neighborhood and worked closely with resident leaders on the project plans, added: “I’m honored to announce we’re taking the first step today in constructing a new park for our neighborhood. This new park will provide a space for generations of families to enjoy.”  

The funding investment builds on a previous effort launched at Pomonok that led to the renovation of a basketball court and completion of a dedicated barbeque space with seating in 2022. The ongoing open-space project is part of NYCHA’s Connected Communities program, which aims to transform and modernize open spaces by implementing public-private partnerships and involves a participatory planning process with residents.  

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Speaker Heastie and Assemblyman Berger, whose allocation of $2.53 million will significantly enhance the quality of life for residents at NYCHA’s Pomonok Houses,” Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki said. “This investment is a testament to our commitment to fostering healthy, active, and connected communities, and we are proud to stand with residents and NYCHA to welcome this transformative investment in Pomonok’s open spaces.” 

NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Division (A&CM) will provide design oversight and construction guidance for the various proposed amenities at the park site, said Vaidehi Mody, Senior Planning Consultant in A&CM.   

“This funding will be instrumental towards revitalizing the open space and creating amenities that serve the diverse needs of the community,” Ms. Mody said. “We look forward to continuing the robust stakeholder engagement throughout design and construction, which will be implemented by our partner, the Public Housing Community Fund.”  

As part of the community engagement efforts in recent years, Pomonok Houses residents have been actively involved in helping to identify open space needs and priorities that would support NYCHA’s mission of providing safe, clean, and connected communities. Residents selected priority projects, such as the upgraded basketball court and communal barbeque area completed in 2022, and the recent Assembly funding will enable NYCHA to move forward with a range of other open-space improvements.  

Resident Association President Tamika Williams-Moore, who was instrumental in advocating for the park funding, said residents are “elated” for the opportunity to fulfill their vision of creating safe spaces that can be a source of pride for generations across the community.   

“I’m very happy that we have local elected members that support us and believe in our vision, and they stand united with us to bring it to reality,” said Ms. Williams-Moore, who has lived at Pomonok Houses for more than 30 years. “This new project is going to be the vessel in which people come to the community and enjoy the amenities in their backyard. This is a backyard investment that is going to help us out a great deal. I think it’s going to restore hope in the community, and I’m very excited about that.” 

Photo caption: State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblymember Sam Berger, NYCHA representatives, and Pomonok Houses residents celebrate the funding investment for new park space at the Queens development. (courtesy of Assembly Speaker Heastie’s office)