Mayor Bloomberg Cuts Ribbon at Newly Rejuvenated Rockaway Park in Queens

Rockaway Park was once dominated by vacant buildings and parking lots, but it was recently reborn as a green waterfront oasis. Last week, Mayor Bloomberg cut the ribbon on the rejuvenated 27-acres of boardwalk and open beach, which was made possible through PlaNYC, the city's effort to provide a “greener, greater vision of New York.” Now the previously underused space in Queens features eco-friendly designs recreational facilities ranging from a 15,700 square-foot skateboard park to handball and basketball courts to a playground and water play area for kids.

The new Rockaway Park performance space, Beach 19 Stage.

Rockaway Park's Arbors Structures, made with recycled plastic materials in light of a traditional boardwalk.

Rockaway Park's Pavilion 30, a comfort station and outdoor classroom that also houses restrooms and maintenance facilities. The park also features eco-friendly designs ranging from a 15,700 square-foot skateboard park to handball and basketball courts to a playground and water play area for kids.

Rockaway Park's Pavilion 30, a comfort station and outdoor classroom that also houses restrooms and maintenance facilities. All structures for the project were designed by WXY Architects under the direction of founding partner Claire Weisz.

Rockaway Park's Pavilion 30, a comfort station and outdoor classroom that also houses restrooms and maintenance facilities. Rockaway Park is one of eight regional parks to be redeveloped through PlaNYC. The open, post-modernist designs use permeable surfaces to improve storm water collection and aim to work in harmony with the natural habitats and coastal dunes in the surrounding areas.

<a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockawaybeach/" target="_blank">Rockaway Park</a> was once dominated by vacant buildings and parking lots, but it was recently reborn as a green waterfront oasis. Last week, Mayor Bloomberg cut the ribbon on the rejuvenated 27-acres of boardwalk and open beach, which was made possible through <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml?utm_source=DailyBlast&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_campaign=Daily" target="_blank">PlaNYC</a>, the city's effort to provide a “greener, greater vision of New York.” Now the previously underused space in Queens features eco-friendly designs recreational facilities ranging from a 15,700 square-foot skateboard park to handball and basketball courts to a playground and water play area for kids.