by Joseph Borelli on Jun 21, 2018 Featured

Published in the Staten Island Advance on June 21, 2018

STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK – The city Parks Department broke ground Thursday morning on reconstruction projects at two Staten Island parks.

Carlton Park in Prince’s Bay and Ida Court Playground in Huguenot will undergo a $2.1 million renovation, funded by $1.5 million from Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), $350,000 from the Parks Without Borders initiative and $250,000 from Borough President James Oddo.

“The reconstruction of Carlton Park and Ida Court Playground are a testament to our commitment to improve green space in all communities in Staten Island,” said NYC Parks Borough Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone.

Carlton Park will receive a new playground and basketball court, in addition to landscape enhancements.

“Losing the basketball court and playground temporarily is certainly a loss, but the end result is going to be so much better. It’s going to be a place that I bring my son,” said Borelli.

Ida Court Playground will receive a new paved park entrance, swings, play equipment, a picnic area and seating.

As part of the Parks Without Borders initiative, Carlton Park’s fences will be lowered and additional pedestrian paths and seating will be installed. Ida Court Playground also will be designed to improve access for the surrounding community.

The Parks Without Borders initiative seeks to make parks more welcoming and accessible by improving entrances, edges and park-adjacent spaces.

Both construction projects are expected to be completed by September 2019.