New Brooklyn recreation facility named after legendary Congresswoman brings 74,000 square feet of opportunity
East Flatbush Gets Its First Major Recreation Center
Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined city and state officials to celebrate the opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, a transformative community investment that represents the first new Parks recreation center in over a decade and the first ever in Central Brooklyn. The approximately 74,000-square-foot facility opened to the public on Tuesday, February 10, with free access for the first week, allowing New Yorkers to experience the breadth of amenities offered in what has become Brooklyn’s largest recreation center. The event brought together NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and Councilmember Farah Louis to celebrate the project’s completion.
A Tribute to a Pioneering Legacy
The center is named in honor of Shirley Chisholm, the Brooklyn-born politician who became the first African American woman to serve in Congress, representing Brooklyn in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. Chisholm was known for her fierce advocacy on behalf of her constituents and her commitment to ensuring that politics served ordinary people rather than entrenched power structures. Mayor Mamdani noted during the opening that “this center will stand as a living tribute to her legacy, proving that when we invest in truly affordable, accessible public spaces, we can build a city that works for all of us.” This framing positioned the recreation center within a broader vision of community-centered governance.
Comprehensive Amenities and Accessibility
The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center provides extensive facilities designed to serve residents of all ages and abilities. The centerpiece is a competition-sized six-lane swimming pool that includes a ramp, chairlift, and stairs to ensure accessibility for all visitors, regardless of physical ability. The facility also includes a three-lane walking track, a competition-sized gymnasium suitable for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball, and dedicated exercise rooms for cardio workouts, weightlifting, and spin classes. Beyond athletics, the center offers teaching kitchen facilities, afterschool space with its own outdoor play area, a dedicated teens-only supervised space, and the Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Media Lab featuring a mixing room for audio-visual production.
Service Area and Membership Access
The location in the heart of Little Haiti in East Flatbush positions the center to serve approximately 41,000 residents within a 15-minute walk or transit ride. All Parks recreation centers offer memberships at significantly reduced prices for New Yorkers of all ages, with entirely free access for everyone under 24 years old. This pricing structure reflects a commitment to ensuring that economic barriers do not prevent community members from accessing the facility. The opening of this facility in a neighborhood previously underserved by city recreation infrastructure represents a significant investment in health equity and community wellness.
Community Voices and Political Leadership
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who had advocated for youth centers in East Flatbush during his previous tenure, emphasized the historic nature of the opening. He noted that the lack of youth centers in this part of Brooklyn had long been shameful and that some communities had numerous recreation facilities while others had none. Councilmember Farah Louis, who had secured the 141 million dollar investment for the project, stated, “This moment is the result of years of advocacy, persistence, and a community that refused to give up on a vision for itself.” State Senator Kevin Parker praised the project as “a historic investment in Central Brooklyn and a statement about what our communities deserve.”
Construction Innovation and Equity
The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center was also noteworthy for its construction methodology. The project was completed three years faster than would have been possible using traditional lowest-bidder contracting through the use of design-build arrangements. Additionally, 36 percent of the project budget went to minority and women-owned business enterprises, exceeding the 30 percent goal established for design-build projects. NYC Department of Design and Construction Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle emphasized that “this is proving that construction reform is possible and that design-build is fast and effective.” The city is currently using the same methodology on three additional recreation centers in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
A Long-Anticipated Investment
For more information on NYC Parks facilities, see NYC Parks official website. For details on recreation center memberships, consult NYC Parks recreation centers. For Shirley Chisholm’s historical legacy, review U.S. House History. For community development information, see NYC government services. The opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center concluded a years-long process of advocacy, funding, and construction that had begun long before Mamdani took office. The facility stands as both a tribute to a legendary congresswoman and a concrete demonstration of public investment in community health and opportunity in one of Brooklyn’s most diverse neighborhoods.
