Students at MS 343 are ending the school year with a brand-new playground they helped design.
The $3 million renovation transformed the school's outdoor space on Brook Avenue into a modern recreation area featuring separate courts for basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with a new fitness station, water fountain and dozens of trees.
School officials said students and staff were involved throughout the planning process, providing feedback and ideas for the redesign.
"They asked us to draw pictures, and we had this 3D layout. It was like a replication of the yard," said eighth-grader Nazariam Lopez.
Lopez said one of his suggestions — a fitness station — was incorporated into the final design.
"It helps with agility, especially for track runners," Lopez said. "We have a track team in our school, so that's definitely going to make a big change."
The project was completed through a partnership with the Trust for Public Land and took less than half of the school year to finish.
Principal Vincent Gassetto said students were patient throughout the construction process, even giving up outdoor recess while work was underway.
"They were so excited about that that they were willing to stay in the cafeteria since early November and not come out for recess every day," Gassetto said. "They really did not give us a hard time. To see them be able to come out today, it was worth the wait."
In addition to new athletic spaces, the playground includes environmental features designed to improve sustainability. An underground stormwater system captures rainwater and helps irrigate the newly planted trees.
The playground will also serve the broader community. School officials said it will remain open after school and on weekends, providing local families with additional recreational space in the neighborhood.
