The Brownsville Recreation Center received an $160 million allotment in the city's 2025 fiscal year budget to fully rebuild the 70-year-old center, providing a brand-new, state-of-the art recreation center in the heart of Brooklyn.
“We came into office with a clear mission: protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make our city more affordable and livable for working-class New Yorkers. And providing New Yorkers with clean, vibrant public spaces, particularly in neighborhoods like Brownsville that have long been overlooked, helps us continue to deliver on that mission,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams through a news release. “Our $160 million investment in the Brownsville Recreation Center will transform this 70-year-old complex into a state-of-the-art community space in the heart of Brooklyn."
The Brownsville Recreation Center first opened as a city facility in 1955. In 2016, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $20 million selective reconstruction of the center; preliminary work on the center found significant damage and deterioration requiring a partial closure, including the indoor pool and the gymnasium, and a complete demolition and reconstruction of the center.
While the recreation center is closed for the multi-year demolition, planning, design and construction period, NYC Parks will open interim spaces in Brownsville to ensure residents continue to have uninterrupted access to the classes and resources that NYC Parks’ recreation centers provide.
“It’s a great day for Brooklyn when community spaces get much needed upgrades, said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “The Brownsville Recreation Center offers space for central Brooklyn residents to cool off during the summer and to stay mentally and physically active and engaged throughout the year. I am thankful to Mayor Adams and NYC Parks for this $160 million investment which gives Brownsville residents the updated center they deserve.”
Additionally, thanks to a $15 million city investment, the city Department of Parks and Recreation will hire an additional 240 full-time maintenance and operations staff to provide a second shift of cleaning service at 100 hotspots at 62 public parks in all five boroughs.
NYC Parks’ second shift program targets 100 hot spots in 62 parks throughout the five boroughs for an additional shift of cleaning services on weekends and in the evenings to improve cleanliness and quality of life. This deployment of 240 new maintenance and operations staff will work from Thursday to Monday to create cleaner parks and public restrooms.
