We will fulfill the potential of at least one major underdeveloped park site in every borough
The most tantalizing opportunity lies in the 500 acres of underdeveloped parkland and underutilized facilities.

New York's park system is built on a foundation of regional and large parks. These parks are the greatest attractions in the system, providing a full range of experiences-athletic, cultural, educational, and relaxing-for every resident in the city. As New York grows, these parks will continue to attract even larger numbers of users. To maintain the quality of the park system, New York will need to create new regional and large park destinations.

We've identified eight sites across the city-at least one in every borough-that were once envisioned as spectacular resources for the surrounding region. All have yet to reach their potential.

One is a former reservoir. Several are located along highways, with few access options. One site lies within a nature preserve, but could safely be developed.

Together, these sites will become regional destinations. For each one, we will engage in a planning effort with the surrounding community to develop green spaces, outdoor recreational centers with opportunities for all ages, and sports facilities-such as for soccer and cricket-that reflect the shifting recreation interests of today's New Yorkers. (See map on following page: Destination Parks)

Dreier-Offerman Park (Calvert Vaux Park), Brooklyn
Dreier-Offerman Park, in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of south Brooklyn, was planned as a regional park eight times the size of Bryant Park. But many of the playing fields at this 77-acre park were built by individual community organizations with limited resources and little coordinated planning. By 2013, this park will finally reach its potential, becoming the center for competitive soccer and baseball for all of south Brooklyn.

Fort Washington Park, Manhattan
The 160-acre site already offers tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and scenic walking paths along the Hudson. But cars driving by the Henry Hudson Parkway separate this long, narrow park from the rest of the city-and there is only one main entrance along a mile-and-a-half long stretch. Fortunately, the State Department of Transportation has funded plans to improve access to Fort Washington Park. That will provide an opportunity to maximize use of the space by building a new soccer and volleyball facility for Upper Manhattan. Greenway improvements will also be implemented throughout the park.

Highland Park, Queens
The former Ridgewood Reservoir is nestled within the broader expanse of Highland Park. Built in 1856 on a natural basin, the reservoir was used until 1959 and served as a backup water supply for Brooklyn and Queens until 1989. Today its three basins are overgrown. Two of the three basins will be set aside as a nature preserve, while the largest will be transformed into a 60-acre active recreation center.

McCarren Park, Brooklyn
Opened in 1936, then closed in 1984 due to the deterioration of its systems, McCarren Pool will finally be rebuilt as both an outdoor Olympic-size pool and a year-round recreation center serving the people of north Brooklyn.

Ocean Breeze Park, Staten Island
Ocean Breeze is a 110-acre park that used to be part of an adjacent hospital campus. Most of the park is sand dunes and wetland and must remain in its natural state. But there is a large parcel of approximately 10 acres where active recreational activities can take place. Ocean Breeze is our single best opportunity on Staten Island to create much-needed major athletic facilities, including soccer fields, baseball fields, and the city's third indoor track.

Soundview Park, Bronx
Soundview Park was built on a landfill in the South Bronx. Today the 212-acre park offers the surrounding community six grass baseball fields, one cricket pitch, one track, a playground, and a soccer field. Even with those facilities, we can do more. There are 93 acres that could provide additional recreational space for the underserved and growing South Bronx community. New athletic fields will be accompanied by environmental improvements, including the restoration of a salt marsh.

The High Bridge, Bronx and Manhattan
The High Bridge is the oldest remaining bridge in New York City. First opened in 1848, the 1200-foot-long, 116-foot tall High Bridge walkway was closed to regular public use around 1970. Standing majestically over the Harlem River, this restored bridge will provide Bronx residents with new access to the parks of the northern Manhattan greenbelt, including the Highbridge pool and recreation center. The bridge will also provide an important greenway link for all New Yorkers.

Rockaway Park, Queens
More than 35 years ago, the bungalow colonies and amusement parks of the Arverne section of the Rockaway Peninsula were demolished to make way for an urban renewal project that never materialized. The amenities along the boardwalk, such as public comfort stations, have deteriorated. Now major developments in the area, such as the Arverne-by-the-Sea project, are under construction and will soon attract a large, vibrant residential community. This project will provide beachfront facilities to serve these new residents, as well as visitors from all over the city.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
The Administration has commenced the planning phase on seven of eight regional parks projects, incorporating feedback from multiple community listening sessions as well as on-site and online surveying for each new park, and has begun the environmental reviews for each of the projects. The conceptual plan for Ocean Breeze has been approved by the Art Commission with design to commence in April. The conceptual design for McCarren Park received approval from the Community Board and has been presented to the Landmarks Commission. Fort Washington Park will be presented to the Art Commission this spring. Dreier Offerman Park in Brooklyn has an approved Master Plan and is slated to begin construction on Phase 1 soccer fields in April. The Administration has finalized an RFP to hire a restoration specialist for High Bridge, which it will release in Spring 2008.