Thomas P. Noonan Playground (Photo: Nurture by Nature)
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Sunnyside residents are raising money to beautify a neighborhood playground.
A group of Sunnysiders, the “Friends of Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Playground,” launched a fundraising page to raise money to plant new flowers and greenery at the playground, located at Greenpoint Avenue and 43rd Street.
The group formed in June and reached out to community members to ask what they would most like to see upgraded at the Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Playground. Playground beautification was the first choice.
The playground, in its current state, is largely devoid of flowering plants and shrubs, and weeds have overtaken all of the pant beds, the Friends of Noonan said in their fundraiser page.
The playground’s planter boxers are full with old woodchips, litter is scattered in plant beds and its existing trees and plants are not adequately cared for, the group added.
With the funds raised, the Friends of Noonan hope to hire horticultural experts, buy flowers and shrubs and complete brand new landscaping at the playground by next April.
The beautification project, dubbed Nurture by Nature, will revive current plant beds, and also create new ones in underutilized areas.
The group has already raised more than $3,000 of their $8,000+ goal on the crowdfunding site ioby. The organization Partnerships for the Parks is matching up to $2,500 in donations for the fundraiser.
The playground has undergone a number of upgrades in recent years and the Parks Dept. is planning on revamping the south west corner of the park–near the intersection of Greenpoint Avenue and 42nd Street– that will include a dog run and new seating areas.
In 2015, the children’s play area was expanded and new safety surfaces and shrubbery were added. A new sprinkler as well as a flagpole in recognition of Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Jr. were also installed. In 2016, the basketball courts and handball courts were resurfaced with new asphalt.
The Friends of Noonan, however, say the playground has been undermaintained despite the upgrades.
The deadline for donations is Oct. 1, 2020. To donate, click here.
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One Comment
is jimmy v going to lift a finger to help his backyard peeps, or is it going to be business as usual?