New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently visited the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, which is progressing rapidly toward its 2025 completion. This $141 million facility, named after the civil rights pioneer and first Black woman in Congress, Shirley Chisholm, is being built by a women-led team, including Senior Project Manager Daphne Lasky. The center is expected to serve as a vital community hub, offering a wide range of amenities, such as a gymnasium, indoor pool, media lab, and teaching kitchen.
The project, managed by the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), follows an accelerated timeline due to its design-build approach. This method, which allows teams to work together from the start, is set to complete the facility two years faster than traditional construction methods. “It’s a fantastic, supportive, and collaborative environment,” Lasky explained, adding that the focus has been on delivering for the community as quickly as possible.
Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of the center for underserved areas like East Flatbush. He stated, “Too often, young people in these communities have to travel far for quality services. This center will change that.” His comments reflect the administration’s focus on equity and bringing essential resources closer to residents.
The groundbreaking for the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center took place in October 2023, and the project has since progressed significantly. The center will also honor Dr. Roy Hastick, a local Caribbean-American leader, by naming its media lab after him. Adams highlighted the facility’s potential to inspire future generations, saying, “Dreams are going to be made here.”
The center’s development aligns with the city’s efforts to improve the capital project process, as noted in an earlier statement by DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. The recreation center is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, bringing much-needed recreational and educational services to East Flatbush. This facility will be a long-lasting tribute to Shirley Chisholm’s legacy and her commitment to community upliftment.
