Ribbon Cut on New Playground and Exterior Renovations at P.S. 77 & P.S. 198M Following
Half Million Dollar Participatory Budgeting Victory
Exterior Renovations to the School Came at a Cost of $8.2 Million
Upper East Side, NY – Public school students from the Battery to East Harlem will have a new playground thanks 1,139 votes winning votes in 2017’s Participatory Budgeting. Today, students, teachers and school administrators joined Council Member Ben Kallos to cut the ribbon on the new $600,000 playground.
Construction for the playground began in July of 2018 and was completed in only 11 months. An additional $100,000 was allocated by Council Member Kallos for cost overruns and last minute expenses. Some of the work done to get the playground built included:
- Remove existing play equipment unit & replace with several new smaller units featuring a contemporary design with a variety of play opportunities and more movement through the space.
- Remove entire planting bed, concrete curb and vegetation including the large honey locust tree; replace with concrete pavement and safety surface tiles.
- Save & protect existing benches located within play equipment area; install additional seating along existing masonry wall near building entrance
The scope of the work done to renovate and upgrade the school’s exterior costs of $8.2 million dollars included new:
- Windows system,
- New sections for the school’s roof,
- Parapets and historical building restoration of Exterior Curtain Wall with original colors.
Construction on this part of the renovations began in October of 2017.
“Children and adults alike are getting a lesson in democracy as they get to enjoy the playground for which they voted and campaigned,” said Council Member Ben Kallos who has allocated $500,000 million following the Participatory Budgeting victory in 2017 followed by an additional $100,000 in 2018. “Thank you to the parents and students age 11 and older who voted for this new playground and saw it built while they were still students at the school.”
Co-located within the same building are P.S. 198 The Strauss School serving the Upper East Side and East Harlem as well as P.S. 77 Lower Lab serving Gifted and Talented students from all of School District 2 that extends from the Upper East Side all the way down to the battery.
Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Council Member Kallos encourages residents to get involved in the Participatory Budgeting process by suggesting projects and volunteering time to get more people voting. Since being elected Council Member Kallos has allocated over five million dollars to neighborhood schools through the Participatory Budgeting process.
“We are grateful to Council Member Kallos for his generous funding and support,” said Lorraine Grillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City School Construction Authority. “Thanks to our strong partnerships with local leaders, the PS 77 and PS 198 community will now have access to an upgraded, safe playground. I am certain this new play space will bring joy to the school children for years to come.”
“We are fortunate and grateful to have such a beautiful and joyful outdoor play space. It now mirrors the work that goes on inside our building. The students, staff, and families of PS 198 thank Council Member Kallos and all who voted in support of this project,” said P.S. 198M Principal Katharine DeBenedictis.
“Thank you for the generous support and our beautiful new playground. Lower Lab students will be enjoying this space for years to come,” said P.S. 77 Principal Sandy Miller.
“Time outdoors is critical for children, and it’s important that every child have access to a safe and accessible play space. I’m so happy that the students at P.S. 77 and P.S. 198M will be able to enjoy their new playground thanks to Council Member Ben Kallos and the community members who advocated for these critical renovations,” said Congress Member Carolyn Maloney.
“Learning through play is an incredibly important part of a child’s development and growth,” said Assembly Member Dan Quart. “That’s why I’m thrilled to see our public school students at P.S. 77 and P.S. 198M being delivered what many of them and their parents voted for in the participatory budget.”
“This is a wonderful lesson for our students: when we band together and use our collective voice, great things happen,” said Dwayne Clark, UFT Manhattan Borough Rep