A $33.8 million public and private package will create Jackson Heights’ first community center and community pool, offering a statewide example of how recreation funding can support children, families and older adults.

Jackson Heights community center plans received a major boost Wednesday when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $10 million in state funding for a new facility that is expected to serve as many as 10,000 children in Queens.

The award will be administered through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, or DASNY. It is one part of a $33.8 million funding package assembled for the project, which will be operated by the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens.

The proposed center is significant for Jackson Heights because the neighborhood does not currently have a full-service community center or community pool. Plans call for an indoor swimming pool, gym and basketball space, an auditorium-style theater and rooms for education, workforce training, health and wellness programs, arts, recreation and community events.

How the Jackson Heights project is being funded

The state’s $10 million commitment is the largest single government award announced for the facility. Other public commitments include $9.3 million from the New York City Council and Council Member Shekar Krishnan, $2 million secured by U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, $1 million from U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, $1 million from Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, $250,000 from Assembly Member Steven Raga and $250,000 from Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.

An additional $10 million from the Metropolitan Park project is intended to help acquire the site at 70-02 34th Avenue. Together, those commitments bring the announced investment to $33.8 million.

State officials described the project as a partnership among state, federal and city leaders, community organizations and private-sector supporters. Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens is expected to oversee programming and day-to-day use of the center.

What the community center could provide

The planned facility is designed to be more than a sports building. According to the governor’s announcement, it could host after-school and summer programs, early-childhood services, academic support, workforce programs, senior activities, health and wellness services, arts and cultural events and general recreation.

Additional concepts under consideration include affordable housing, child care, outdoor sports areas and a rooftop farm. Those elements are not all guaranteed in the announcement, but they show the wider role supporters want the site to play.

The pool could be especially important in a dense neighborhood where families may have limited access to safe and affordable swimming. Public pools can support swim instruction, water safety, exercise and relief during periods of extreme heat. A year-round indoor facility also creates consistent opportunities that do not depend on summer weather.

The theater and gathering rooms could give local groups a place for performances, public meetings and cultural programming. Workforce and academic services could connect teenagers and adults with tutoring, training and job-search support.

Why the announcement matters beyond Queens

Although the Jackson Heights project is in New York City, it fits into a broader state strategy that affects communities across New York, including the Mohawk Valley. Hochul has grouped several recreation programs under the “Unplug and Play” initiative: NY SWIMS for public pools, NY BRICKS for community centers and NY PLAYS for playgrounds.

Statewide, NY PLAYS has supported 89 projects across all 10 economic-development regions with $67.5 million. NY SWIMS has committed nearly $260 million to 79 projects. The first round of NY BRICKS awarded $100 million to 30 community-center projects, and the state budget included another $75 million for a second round.

The Mohawk Valley has already seen direct benefits. The first NY BRICKS round included $3.61 million for a new Town of Herkimer community center and $1.52 million for a new center in Amsterdam led by the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council of Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery Counties. Those awards show that the program is not limited to large metropolitan areas.

Phoenix readers can learn more from our earlier coverage of the second round of NY BRICKS funding and our practical NY BRICKS application guide. Utica has also received support through NY SWIMS, including a $3 million award connected to a proposed indoor pool. Read our report on the Utica indoor-pool project.

A model, not a promise

The Jackson Heights announcement does not automatically create new funding for Utica, Rome or other Mohawk Valley communities. Each state program has its own application rules, deadlines and matching requirements. Local governments and nonprofits still must develop viable projects, document community need and show that they can complete and operate the facility.

What the Queens project does provide is a useful model. Its funding comes from several levels of government and a private development commitment instead of one source. That kind of financing can make a large project possible while spreading the cost. It can also be complicated, because land acquisition, design, construction and long-term operations must remain coordinated.

For Mohawk Valley leaders, the practical lesson is to prepare early. Municipalities and nonprofits considering recreation projects should identify a site, collect realistic construction estimates, establish community partnerships and begin planning how the facility will be staffed and maintained after it opens. Organizations seeking state grants generally also need to be prequalified in New York’s Statewide Financial System.

What comes next

The announcement establishes the funding package but does not give a final construction schedule or opening date. Land acquisition, design approvals and construction planning will determine when residents can begin using the center. Costs and features can also change as a project moves from concept to final design.

The governor’s office said the investment is intended to create a safe, affordable place where children, families and seniors can gather and take part in programs. Community leaders emphasized that residents have sought such a facility for years.

Readers can review the full state announcement and the state’s earlier list of NY BRICKS awards.

What recreation or community-service facility is most needed in your Mohawk Valley neighborhood? Share your experience in the comments, especially if your community is working on a pool, playground, youth center or senior space.