Day: July 17, 2025

Local pols, New York City Parks reps, and the community celebrated the completion of phase one of a long-overdue restoration of a popular Bay Ridge playground on Brooklyn Colonial Road between 83rd and 85th Streets with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 17.

Russell Pedersen Playground, dedicated to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Russell Pedersen, who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1968, and a frequent volunteer at the playground, now features new, colorful interactive play structures, fitness equipment, swings, including tandem swings, and a water play area with spray showers.

NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher described the park as a “living tribute” to Pedersen and gave a shout-out to Council Member Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), who was instrumental in securing $5.5 million in funding for the redesign of the playspace.

“Does anybody remember what it used to look like?” Maher asked. “I mean, this whole park was really lousy. So we’re really grateful for what the council member has invested. [Brannan] has fostered some $92 million directly and then got the mayor to ante up another $103 million for the boardwalk at Coney Island.”

Brannan said one of the “coolest” parts of his job as a council member was renovating the parks and playgrounds he frequented as a youngster, and he collaborated with Maher to revitalize parks and playgrounds in his district that had been long neglected.

“Almost eight years later, we’ve almost touched every single park and playground in this district, and now we’re working on Coney Island, where there’s a lot of work,” Brannan said.

Brannan also handed Maher a symbolic check for $4 million to cover phase 2 of improvements to the Russell Pedersen Playground.

One of the criticisms elected officials didn’t want to hear from their constituents was that other neighborhoods had nicer parks and playgrounds, Brannan elaborated, pointing out that once phase 2 was completed, the recreational outdoor space would occupy an entire city block.

“Now, with the work that we’re doing here, I think we’re getting to the point where hopefully people are going to start to come to Bay Ridge and say, ‘How come we can’t have parks as nice as we have in Bay Ridge?’ And certainly Russell Peterson and Fort Hamilton behind us are a big, big example of that,” Brannan pointed out.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) has spent a significant amount of time at the newly renovated playground with his children.

“We’re here almost every other day, whether it’s playing here, running through the sprinklers, enjoying the playground, or being here with friends. It really is a remarkable place,” said Gounardes, thanking Brannan for making revamping parks and playgrounds one of his priorities. “I’m thankful to have a space to take my kids, and I know that on behalf of all the families in the neighborhood who love living here, we’re grateful to have a place where families can play.”

Fitness enthusiast Danny was testing his stamina on the fitness equipment, which includes a pull-up station, a variable press, and a knee-lift dip station, among others. He told the Brooklyn Paper that the park had improved “1000%.”

“It’s a lot better than before, that’s for sure. I can’t complain. There’s a lot of stuff to do here. There’s so much variety, you can’t go wrong for sure,” said Danny, who believed that the cleaner environment and upgrades would motivate people to come out and up their exercise routine.