Rendering of Brush Park in Mount Vernon, NY

New York, NY (September 22, 2026)-Three of New City Parks’ (NCP) partner cities in New York State will now be able to build dynamic new destination playgrounds with the help of major state funding.

Secured with NCP’s community outreach, design, and grant services, awards for the cities of Buffalo, Newburgh, and Mount Vernon were among the 89 grants announced by Governor Kathy Hochul yesterday through the New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) program.

• City of Buffalo - $2,000,000 to create a new, fully accessible community playground at Kingsley Park

• City of Mount Vernon - $1,500,000 for major expansion and enhancement of the playground at Brush Park

• City of Newburgh - $2,000,000 to create a destination playground at Delano-Hitch Park

“We know that high-quality, outdoor play spaces are crucial for child development and fostering better physical and mental health,” said Rose Harvey, NCP founder and executive director. “Across our program portfolio, New City Parks is focused on ensuring that kids have well-designed, safe, and engaging spaces to play.”

In each of these cities, children represent a large percentage of the population, and many live in poverty. NCP has been working closely with the mayors, councils, and city staffers in each city, as well as many local groups and residents to understand what the communities want and need.

“New City Parks has been an invaluable partner in moving our vision for Delano-Hitch Park forward. I’m proud to have brought Newburgh families together to help shape this project. As a council member and a parent, I’m grateful that Governor Hochul’s $2 million investment will help create a place where our children and someday their children can play and grow together,” said City of Newburgh Council Member Ronald Zorrilla.

Rose Harvey added, “We are tremendously grateful to Governor Hochul and New York State’s Dormitory Authority for these critical investments. We can’t wait to help deliver these playground transformations to ensure kids have engaging outdoor spaces to play in for years to come.”

“Playgrounds give children a place to be active, build friendships, and connect with the world around them. Through NY PLAYS, we are investing in communities across our state and creating more safe, accessible places where children of all abilities can get outside and play. These projects will give more New York families opportunities to put down their devices, spend time together, and build healthy habits that can last a lifetime,” said Governor Hochul.

For more information about the PLAYS awards, please see Governor Hochul’s funding announcement: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/unplug-and-play-governor-hochul-announces-675-million-89-projects-build-and-improve

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