TODAY, Tuesday, July 12, Majority Leader Van Bramer, Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, Community Board 2, and children from Sports and Arts in Schools at IS 125 cut the ribbon on new basketball and handball courts at Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Playground in Sunnyside.
The new basketball and handball courts are the finishing touches on the $2.2 million renovation to Noonan Playground. The first phase of the renovation, which included new accessible play equipment, more swings, a toddler area, and new spray shower, was completed in April 2015.
“Noonan Playground is a hub of our community,” said Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “I was proud to allocate $2 million for the first round of renovations to the park, and fought hard for the additional $200,000 to renovate the basketball and handball courts. With these modern courts, separate play areas for toddlers and older children, and of course the famous Rainbow Sprinkler, children and families in Sunnyside and Woodside will continue to have a wonderful place to play for years to come.”
“The upgraded basketball and handball courts in Noonan Playground complement the recently completed play area, making this park a great destination for summer fun,” said Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.
“Today was a great day for the children who use Noonan Playground,” said Community Board 2 Chair Denise Keehan-Smith. Community Board 2 congratulates Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and NYC Parks Department for securing the funding for the much needed renovation of the basketball courts. We look forward to everyone continuing to enjoy the park.”
“The Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) thanks Councilman Van Bramer, a major advocate for children in New York City and a great supporter of the modernization of our neighborhood parks,” said Woodside, Queens based SASF CEO Jim O’Neill, who grew up in Sunnyside. Commenting on Councilman Van Bramer’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, O’Neill said that he is “thrilled to see that our community will have basketball and handball courts where students who participate in SASF Summer Camp programs as IS 125, in Woodside can play.”
“Our thanks to Council Member Van Bramer for ensuring the community has this wonderful, newly renovated park,” said Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of Sunnyside Community Services. “I know the youth participants of Sunnyside Community Services’ summer camps are looking forward to playing basketball and handball on the new courts.”
“At Woodside on the Move our participants, parents, and staff refer to Noonan Playground as Rainbow Park because of the rainbow sprinklers where our kids play,” said Justin Petropoulos, After-School/SummerCamp Program Director for Woodside on the Move. These new basketball and handball courts will provide our Summer Camp participants with a beautiful, outdoor space to learn and play. Thank you, Majority Leader Van Bramer, for making this park, our communities’ little rainbow, so much brighter.”
“We are elated with the unveiling of the Thomas P. Noonan Park,” said Judy Mittler, Principal of IS 125. “It is a wonderful recognition to Marine Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan’s service to our country. The basketball and handball courts will provide the students with the physical outlet that they need outside of school. We are so thankful to Councilman Van Bramer for recognizing the need of park space in our neighborhood and returning this park superb condition.”
Noonan Playground was named for Vietnam War hero Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor in rescuing wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Lance Corporal Noonan was killed in action in 1969.
