Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett (L) and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards (R) announce plans for a new $95 million recreation center at Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans (NYC Parks/ Daniel Avila)
Dec. 20, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans will soon get a new recreation center via a $92 million investment from Mayor de Blasio’s office, city officials announced Friday.
The new center will be 35,000 square feet in size and will be located by Merrick Boulevard, between 116th Avenue and Baisley Boulevard.
The new facility will consist of multipurpose rooms, fitness rooms and a gym.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett, Council Member I. Daneek Miller and other local leaders made the announcement in front of the proposed site Friday.
NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff said the new building will offer residents a new public place to come together.
“This new center will be a space where community members from St. Albans and the surrounding neighborhoods can socialize, get fit, learn and have fun,” Fialkoff said in a statement.
She said the city is hosting a community input meeting on Jan. 25. and is calling on residents to submit design ideas for the structure.
Roy Wilkins Park is a sprawling 54-acre park known for its outdoor tennis, basketball and handball courts as well as its sports field.
There is already a recreation center located at the park that has an indoor swimming pool and indoor basketball hall. That center is by Baisley Boulevard.
The park was named after the prominent civil rights leader Roy Wilkins who also served as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Wilkins died in 1981 at the age of 80.
Community Board 12 Chair Reverend Carlene Thorbs and Executive Director of the Southern Queens Park Association Jacqueline Boyce also attended the event Friday.
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