Playground Improvement Project
The NYJL’s Playground Improvement Project (PIP) program revitalizes safe and beautiful play spaces for the greater New York City community. We partner with NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) to plan and execute a yearly large-scale park or playground improvement project in Manhattan. Each year, the NYJL selects a different New York City park and spends five weekends in the spring painting, gardening, and completing general improvements in the park. PIP focuses on parks that need restoration and that will have the greatest impact on the surrounding community.
In 2024, PIP will revitalize Columbus Park in partnership with NYC Parks, with volunteers painting, weeding, and planting. The 3.2-acre park sits in the Chinatown neighborhood, and offers access to basketball courts, playgrounds, and community spaces to play mahjong and practice tai chi. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 8th.
We hope you will join us this spring to paint and garden in Columbus Park! To sign up to volunteer, please email pip@nyjl.org.
2024 Park Days:
- Saturday, April 20 & Sunday, April 21
- Saturday, April 27 & Sunday, April 28
- Saturday, May 4 & Sunday, May 5
- Saturday, May 11
- Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19
Previous Playground Improvement Projects include:
1991 • PS 75
1992 • JHS 47M NY School for the Deaf
1993 • PS 169 Robert F. Kennedy School
1994 • PS 111 Adolf Ochs School
1995 • PS 15 The Robert Clemente School
1996 • PS 146 Anna M. Short School
1997 • PS 2 Meyer London School
1998 • PS 197 Howard Bennett Playground
1999 • PS 194 Countee Cullen Literacy Academy
2000 • PS 125 Ralph Bunche Elementary School
2001 • Thomas Jefferson Playground
2002 • Baruch Playground and PS138
2003 • Marcus Garvey Playground
2004 • Highbridge Park
2005 • Tompkins Square Park
2006 • Jackie Robinson Park
2007 • Seward Park
2008 • James J. Walker Park
2009 • Morningside Park
2010 • St. Nicholas Park
2011 • Sara D. Roosevelt Park
2012 • East River Park
2013 • Anne Loftus Playground at Fort Tryon Park
2014 • Tompkins Square Park
2015 • Columbus Park and Foley Square
2016 • Marcus Garvey Park
2017 • Jackie Robinson Park
2018 • Corlears Hook Park
2019 • Thomas Jefferson Park
2020 – 2021 • St. Nicholas Park
2022 • Seward Park
2023 • Marcus Garvey Park
2024 • Columbus Park
1991 • P.S. 75
1992 • JHS 47M NY School for the Deaf
1993 • PS 169 Robert F. Kennedy School
1994 • PS 111 Adolf Ochs School
1995 • PS 15 The Robert Clemente School
1996 • PS 146 Anna M. Short School
2011 • Sara D. Roosevelt Park
2022 • Seward Park