Press Releases

The $5 million Community Parks Initiative transformation brings new play spaces, sports amenities, and accessible features that honor Harlem’s history and community spirit

Today, NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa joined Assembly Member Jordan Wright, Council Member Yusef Salaam, Community Board 10 Parks Committee Chair Dr. Maurice Franklin, CEO of Harlem Hospital Center George Leconte, and community members to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated William McCray Playground in Harlem, featuring upgraded play areas, new amenities, and a plaza honoring McCray’s legacy of service as a Harlem Hellfighter.

“With the reopening of William McCray Playground — the fifth Harlem Park to be transformed through the Community Parks Initiative — we’re continuing to deliver on our promise to create high-quality, inclusive parks in every neighborhood,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa.” This playground honors the legacy of William McCray, who was a member of the Harlem Hellfighters — the first African American National Guard unit from New York — and provides a beautiful, welcoming place for families to connect, play, and thrive.

The playground now includes brand-new play equipment for children, a spray shower, swings with an accessible seat, and a full basketball court. Visitors will also enjoy new seating areas with accessible tables, updated planting beds, and a multi-purpose synthetic turf area designed for recreation, exercise, and community events. The plaza features a unique chevron paving pattern paying tribute to McCray’s service as a soldier with the Harlem Hellfighters.

The Harlem Hellfighters were an African American regiment from New York (the 369th Infantry Regiment) that fought in World War I. Despite facing racism at home, they earned great respect overseas, spending more time in combat than any other U.S. unit and receiving numerous honors for their courage. The Harlem Hellfighters fought for 191 days in continuous combat, which is believed to be more time than any other American unit.

This project was made possible through $2.25 million in funding from the Manhattan Borough President, $2.1 million from the Mayor’s Office through NYC Parks’ Community Parks Initiative (CPI), and $650,000 from the City Council.

Through the Community Parks Initiative, NYC Parks has been working to bring quality open spaces to communities that need them most. In this district, nine parks have benefitted from CPI funding. With the completion of William McCray Playground, five playgrounds have been fully renovated to date — including Martin Luther King, Jr. Playground, Langston Hughes Playground, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson Playground, and Frederick Johnson Playground. Construction is currently underway at Percy Sutton Playground, while projects to renovate Holcombe Rucker Park Playground, St. Nicholas Playground South, and Renaissance Playground are now in the design phase. Four additional parks have also been selected and are currently in either the design or construction phase.