JAMES A. BLAND PLAYGROUND

Location: Queens, New York
Client: New York City Parks
Completed: June 2024

James A. Bland Playground is a .55-acre site located adjacent to the Long Island Railroad’s Flushing Main Street Station and NYCHA’s Bland Houses. This site experiences very high usage due to these neighboring uses. The proposed design calls for the complete renovation of the park. A ne w gathering space welcomes visitors at the site’s main entry. This plaza utilizes pavers to enliven the space and includes benches and game tables to accommodate a variety of passive uses. The bench orientation encourages socialization among park users. Beyond the gathering area, a central walk serves as the primary means of circulation in the park. The new park carefully weaves active open spaces amongst the numerous mature trees to create spaces for children’s playgrounds, water spray and a bank of swings. Native plantings supplement the landscape to help visually define the play spaces while also aiding in stormwater management. Changes in pavement types and thoughtful placement of seating also help to denote the variety of spaces. Based on community input, the basketball court will be refurbished and one of the handball courts will be converted into a multi-use open space, suitable for small gatherings including yoga or tai chi classes.