Harborview Terrace Welcomes Newly Transformed Community, Recreation Space 

On November 10, the Harborview Terrace Houses community celebrated the opening of a revitalized, multi-use outdoor space, promoting recreation, community pride, and inclusion. 

Transforming a formerly underutilized play area in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, the 20,000-square-foot project is complete with new and upgraded recreation features, enhanced seating, and a variety of colorful art installations.  

A project of the Public Housing Community Fund, in partnership with NYCHA and the nonprofit genEquality, the revitalization effort was funded by a $250,000 grant from the Pershing Square Foundation. Harborview Terrace residents and community volunteers led the charge over the past few months to revamp the old asphalt lot into a communal space that reflects the neighborhood’s spirit, improving community health, quality of life, and safety.  

“NYCHA is ecstatic about the 20,000-square-foot open space revitalization at Harborview Terrace,” Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt said. “Decorated by wall murals and asphalt art promoting inclusivity and equality, this space will now embody the spirit of New York City, and serve as a proper gathering space for NYCHA residents and members of the surrounding community.”  

NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble added: “It is truly gratifying to see Harborview Terrace residents and the Hell’s Kitchen community come together to revitalize this open space. We value our partners, including the residents who took the lead, ensuring the design reflected the community’s vision.” 

Key features of the multi-use area include a renovated basketball court with new backboards and hoops; a refurbished ping pong table; a new pickleball court; upgraded benches and seating areas; and more than 20 planter boxes. In addition, NYCHA supported the project by installing enhanced LED lighting and security gates with controlled access. A new ramp for improved accessibility and new tables will be added in coming weeks.  

The revitalized area now includes an upgraded basketball court, seating and planter boxes, a refurbished ping pong table, and a new pickleball court.

“We strongly believe that having access to active, playful, and beautiful outdoor spaces improves community health, safety, and quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Pershing Square Foundation Co-Trustee Neri Oxman said. “This park is central to the community, and now it is a space that our neighbors and the residents of Harborview Terrace can enjoy for generations to come.”  

As part of genEquality’s Nudge Art program, community members and teaching artist Laura Alvarez worked to enliven the development lot with vibrant wall murals and asphalt art reflecting residents’ pride in their neighborhood. In celebration of community diversity and inclusion, the surrounding wall murals include the phrase “You Belong” in over 20 languages, including Braille. The artwork colors are also intended to represent themes such as equality and justice.  

The community engagement effort with genEquality, which involved Harborview residents and more than 100 volunteers from local groups, launched this summer with workshops and subsequent design sessions to develop the vision that was brought to life through the installations.     

“With the help of more than 100 volunteers who put in nearly 300 unique volunteer shifts, we were able to realize the community’s vision for this 20,000-square-foot area that encourages play, sport, connection, inclusion, and belonging,” genEquality Executive Director Sherry Hakimi said. “We know this co-created Nudge Art installation and transformation will yield many positive dividends for the community, and we can’t wait to see its impact continue to grow.”  

Harborview Terrace Houses Resident Association President Maria Guzman called the project a “labor of love” for the community, noting that residents, volunteers, and partners came together to transform an important play space for current and future generations.  

“For years to come, countless residents will enjoy this space, allowing us to be more active and build a stronger, healthier community,” said Ms. Guzman, whose late son had advocated for improving the site. “This is what our community does, and we look forward to supporting more projects like this for our residents.”  

For the Public Housing Community Fund, the Harborview Terrace revitalization was part of a larger goal to invest in NYCHA’s open spaces and help address community needs, while also supporting the community engagement and public-private partnership model under the Authority’s Connected Communities initiative. 

“Working directly with Harborview Terrace residents and leadership, the project supported community building and is about fostering community ties, health, and wellbeing,” Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki said. “The Public Housing Community Fund is investing millions of dollars in NYCHA’s open spaces across the city, and this project is a testament to how public-private partnership can work for NYCHA residents and lead to positive change. We are excited to see how this project enhances the quality of life for all residents and visitors for years to come.”