Attended by Eric Adams, New York City Mayor, Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Operations, Tom Foley, DDC Commissioner, Sue Donoghue, NYC Parks Commissioner, and members of the East Flatbush Community, the groundbreaking celebrated the start of construction on the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center.
The new center is named for Brooklyn-born politician, and the first African American woman to serve in Congress, Shirley Chisholm. Upon its completion at the end of 2025, the state-of the art recreation center will offer a host of programming offerings and amenities to encourage learning, recreation, and community and civic engagement. The center’s features will include multipurpose rooms; a gymnasium; a walking track; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; and a teaching kitchen.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to honor Shirley Chisholm’s legacy of public service with a building that will be a true community asset,” said Jeanne. “We designed this building to welcome everyone to gather, learn and play together, and enjoy the park in a renewed way.”
“Shirley Chisholm inspired millions of young girls to pursue dreams they never thought possible. And when the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center opens, her name will once again inspire another generation, while providing the residents of East Flatbush with a state-of-the-art recreational center that honors the rich history and heritage of this vibrant community,” said Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City.