Chelsea's First New Park In 40 Years Officially Opens

CHELSEA, NY — Chelsea's first new park in 40 years has officially opened.

Politicians and Chelsea neighbors welcomed the new park last week, called Chelsea Green, located on West 20th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.

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The new park was once a Department of Sanitation facility, and the quarter-acre open space is the first parkland added to the neighborhood in 40 years, according to the Parks Department.

"For decades East Chelsea has been a 'parks desert,' requiring residents to walk a long distance to access green space or a playground," City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said in a statement. "Now, after years of organizing and advocacy by Chelsea residents, we finally have a new public park and playground for the community."

Johnson, Mayor Bill de Blasio and a private donor funded the $5.8 million project. In 2015, it received funding from Johnson in his participatory budgeting cycle that year. Chelsea Green features play structures for kids, a turf area, trees, shaded seating and an area for public art displays and performances.

"As the first new neighborhood park in 40 years, Chelsea Green provides vital public green space for this growing community," Commissioner Mitchell Silver said in a statement.

Community Board 4's first vice-chair, Lowell Kern, said, "CB4 is thrilled by the opening of Chelsea Green."

"We are happy that we were able to help the community realize their vision for this site. CB4 recognizes the power of community organizing and celebrates the opening of a park that was the highest vote-getter in Speaker Corey Johnson’s first edition of participatory budgeting," Kern said.