TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the opening of the brand-new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush. He was joined by NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and Councilmember Farah Louis. The new center is the first new Parks recreation center in over a decade, the first ever in Central Brooklyn, and the largest recreation center in the whole borough. Located in the heart of Little Haiti, the center is expected to serve residents of East Flatbush and Midwood, with over 41,000 New Yorkers living within a 15-minute walk or transit ride of the new center.
The approximately 74,000-square-foot recreation center provides space for swimming, team sports, exercise, educational programming, and even A/V production in a media lab. Like all Parks recreation centers, discounts are available for New Yorkers of all ages, and membership is entirely free for people 24 years and younger.
The center will fully open to the public on Tuesday, February 10. For the first week, all New Yorkers will have the opportunity to use the brand-new center for one free day of their choosing, prior to becoming members. Parks is also hosting guided tours, registration events, and demonstrations to help New Yorkers experience what the new facility has to offer.
"The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center will soon be alive with possibility - kids learning to swim, cook, and grow their own food; friends coming together on the court; neighbors of every generation creating and connecting, from the gym to the podcast studio. This will be a space where the city meets itself, built to serve the people who call it home," said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. "Shirley Chisholm believed that politics should be accountable to everyday people. In that spirit, 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."
"Central Brooklyn, cancel your gym subscription and join us at Shirley Chisholm, where we have state-of-the-art amenities at a fraction of the cost. This new center means that over 41,000 New Yorkers now have an affordable space to exercise, learn, and connect with their neighbors, a fitting tribute to Chisholm's commitment to community investment," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "This recreation center represents the very best of city government. Shared spaces like this make our city more affordable, more livable, and more safe. I am so grateful to our partner agencies for their collaboration, and to City Councilmember Farah Louis and State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for their tireless advocacy and support, making this center-the first in all of Central Brooklyn-possible. Working together and with the community, we've created a space where all Brooklynites are welcome."
"Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you to Parks. Thank you to the elected officials who are here. Thank you to the Councilmember who finished this [project]," said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. "There were no youth centers in East Flatbush, in this part … It was a shame that, as was mentioned, there are some communities that have a plethora of these [recreation centers], and there are some communities that have none … This is a celebration with a lot more work to do. Thank you so much, everyone."
"After years of advocacy, securing funding, and two years of construction, it is deeply meaningful to see the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center finally open its doors to the community. This project reflects sustained partnership across government and a shared commitment to ensuring this space truly serves local families, youth, and seniors. From early planning through completion, this effort was guided by community input and the belief that public investment must deliver real, lasting benefits. Named in honor of Shirley Chisholm, this center stands as a living investment in wellness, opportunity, and community connection for generations to come," said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
"This moment is the result of years of advocacy, persistence, and a community that refused to give up on a vision for itself," said Council Member Farah N. Louis. "The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center stands as a testament to what happens when residents, advocates, and public servants work together with purpose. I am proud to have secured this $141 million investment to honor Shirley Chisholm's legacy, and to represent a promise to every child and family in East Flatbush that they matter and that their future is worth fighting for."
"The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a historic investment in Central Brooklyn and a statement about what our communities deserve. By expanding access to health, education, and creative opportunity for tens of thousands of families, it honors Chisholm's legacy of equity and public service. I commend Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his leadership and partnership in delivering a project that puts community access and opportunity first," said State Senator Kevin Parker.
"As we celebrate 100 years of Black History, it is fitting that we are opening the first ever facility of its kind in Central Brooklyn, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, named after a Black Caribbean historian with Bajan roots who represented us on the Federal and State level; this space is a valuable resource for our community. This is a moment of great pride where we as leaders need to continue her legacy to embody her motto - Unbought & Unbossed," said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman. "This facility has been a longstanding need to provide our youth with a safe space. I'm especially honored to have been involved in the initial planning stages before my election, along with families impacted by gun violence, the youth, and my neighbors. Since taking office, we created the Assembly District 58 Public Safety Taskforce that continues to advocate for more resources to invest in public health. I want to thank Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for laying this foundation, the Mayor, NYC Parks, and my colleagues for bringing this to the finish line; and for their commitment to investing in our youth and communities - allowing us to have the resources needed to live healthy and productive lives. This is a perfect example of 'It is not an I thing, It's a WE thing.'"
"I stand amazed at how our recreation centers are bringing back a true sense of community. With state-of-the-art spaces like this, we're staying active, staying connected, and having fun," said Council Member Ty Hankerson. "Every community deserves a place like this."
"The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a huge milestone in construction reform for the City and proves that design-build works," said NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. "Using design-build contracting, DDC was able to complete the Center three years faster than would have been possible with traditional lowest bidder contracting. And 36 percent of the budget went to M/WBEs, exceeding our goal of 30 percent on design-build projects. We are proving that construction reform is possible and that design-build is fast and effective. Right now, we're working, via design-build, on three new recreation centers in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens that will all see similar time savings."
Now Brooklyn's largest recreation center, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center includes brand-new fitness resources for New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds, including:
- Competition-sized 6 lane pool, including a ramp, chairlift, and stairs so all visitors can comfortably enter the water regardless of ability
- Three lane walking track
- Competition-sized gym perfect for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball
- Exercise rooms for cardio workouts, weightlifting, and spin classes
The center also features spaces for events, classes, and relaxation, including:
- Teaching kitchen
- Afterschool space with its own outdoor play area
- Dedicated teens-only space with supervision
- Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr. Media Lab with a mixing room for A/V production
- Multipurpose rooms for events and classes
The new center is named for 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.
