Brooklyn’s Star Spangled Playground track refurbishment is the first completed project between New York Road Runners and New Balance through NYC Parks’ Adopt-a-Park program
New York, Oct. 1, 2026 – New York Road RunnersCEO Rob Simmelkjaer, NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher, New Balance Vice President of North America Running Tom Carleo, andBrooklyn Community Arts & Media High School Principal James O’Brien joined Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, District 33 Council Member Lincoln Restler, Brooklyn North High Schools Superintendent Dr. Rushell White, Grand Street Settlement Chief Program Officer of Youth Programs Thanh Bui, New Balance track and field athletes and Olympians, Elle Purrier St. Pierre and Vernon Norwood, and community youth and adults to “break the tape” in celebration of the newly refurbished track at Star Spangled Playground in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The track refurbishment project was made possible through NYC Parks’ Adopt-a-Park program, which enables businesses and nonprofits to directly invest in the improvement of neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.
“This new track is a tangible example of New York Road Runners’ impact and how we’re investing in healthier lives and stronger communities across the five boroughs,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “Alongside New Balance and NYC Parks, we’re creating more opportunities for students and this entire neighborhood to experience the transformative power of running. We’re proud that Star Spangled Playground is the first track to come to life through this initiative, and we look forward to investing in more community spaces like this across New York City.”
The new Star Spangled Playground track, adjacent to Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School (BCAM), marks the first named project completed under a track refurbishment initiative announced by New York Road Runners and New Balance in November 2025 during TCS New York City Marathon race week as part of the renewal of their long-standing partnership. At that time, the organizations committed to refurbishing a number of local tracks beginning in 2026, with the goal of increasing access to running for students across New York City’s five boroughs.
“This is about more than opening a track, it’s about celebrating the opportunities this space will create for the next generation,” said Tom Carleo, Vice President of Running, North America, at New Balance. “Breaking the tape alongside community members and New Balance athletes like Elle Purrier St. Pierre and Vernon Norwood is a powerful reminder that every running journey starts somewhere. Partnering with NYRR for this track renovation gives young runners a place to take that first step, build confidence, and discover what’s possible.”
“Playgrounds like this one are where future athletes get their start and young New Yorkers make memories that will last lifetimes,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “With these improvements to Star Spangled Playground, we’re giving local students and the Clinton Hill community a safer and more welcoming place to play and grow, plus an upgraded fitness area for New Yorkers of all ages. We’re grateful to New York Road Runners and New Balance for their partnership and investment in this neighborhood resource, helping us provide the high-quality public spaces that all New Yorkers deserve.”
Located in the Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Star Spangled Playground is adjacent to several public schools and is heavily used for a variety of sports. In addition to the refurbished running track, the playground also features basketball courts, handball courts, and a multi-use artificial-turf field used for football and soccer.
The Star Spangled Playground track has long served as an important recreational resource for BCAM students and the surrounding community. The track and field were first developed following advocacy from BCAM and support from then-Council Member Letitia James and then-Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who secured funding for the original project. The track and field opened in 2012 in partnership with NYC Parks and the NYC School Construction Authority. After years of extensive use by students, athletes, and community members, the facility deteriorated and eventually became largely unusable, prompting BCAM Principal James O’Brien to advocate for its restoration. Following a repair of the field in 2024, New York Road Runners and New Balance joined together to fund the installation of a new high-quality track surface through NYC Parks’ Adopt-a-Park program, completing the transformation of the beloved community facility for a new generation of runners and athletes.
“The Star Spangled Playground track and field is invaluable and essential to our Campus 117 and BCAM High School’s community culture of active collaboration, competitive athletics, and collective fitness,” said James O’Brien, Principal of Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School. “Fifteen years ago, we raised the funds and convinced the city to turn a dilapidated concrete playground into a state-of-the-art track and field, and we are so proud the site has gone through this current rebuild. We are incredibly thankful to New York Road Runners and New Balance for refurbishing our new track. We look forward to collaborating with both these partners to continue our robust athletic, fitness, and community programming.”
“The newly refurbished Star Spangled Playground provides a quality recreational space for young people in Brooklyn to run, learn, and grow,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This investment shows deep care for young Brooklynites, and I can’t wait to see how it serves as a resource for the community. I’m grateful to New York Road Runners, New Balance, and NYC Parks for continuing to invest in Brooklyn and bringing this space back to life.”
Our young people deserve safe, high-quality places to run and play in their own neighborhood,” said New York State Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest. “I’m thrilled to see Star Spangled Playground’s track renewed, and I thank New York Road Runners, New Balance, and NYC Parks for investing in Clinton Hill.”
“I’m pleased the Star Spangled Playground has a brand-new state-of-the-art running track and fitness area,” said Lincoln Restler, Council Member for District 33. “The recreation area is much used, and its long overdue improvements will be felt by so many neighbors and students who rely on it to exercise, play, and gather. Thanks to New York Road Runners, New Balance, and the Parks Department for their commitment to our community and to boosting access to sports and recreation across the city.”
“We value our partnership with Principal James O’Brien and can’t wait to bring our Grand Street kids from the local communities to utilize this space,” said Thanh Bui, Chief Program Officer of Youth Programs at Grand Street Settlement.
The refurbishment began June 24, 2026, and lasted three months.
In addition to the track “tape break” ceremony, New York Road Runners and New Balance distributed shoes to 115 local school students to help encourage them on their running journey. To help kids get active and feel empowered to cross any finish line, New York Road Runners and New Balance have distributed nearly 50,000 free pairs of shoes to students at more than 1,000 underserved schools and community centers since the start of their partnership over 10 years ago.
The event also featured track and field events and activities to engage the local community to “try the track,” including sprint competitions, relay baton exchanges, lawn games, obstacle courses, and face painting.
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About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City–based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running—serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features nearly 60,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. New Balance employs 14,000 associates around the globe, and in 2025 reported worldwide sales of $9.2 billion. New Balance owns five athletic footwear factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance MADE U.S. footwear contains a domestic value of 70 percent or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales. To learn more about New Balance, please visit newbalance.com; for the latest press information, visit newbalance.newsmarket.com.
About NYC Parks
NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land—14 percent of New York City—including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. NYC Parks operates more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 66 public pools, 52 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. It cares for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums, and looks after 666,000 street trees, and 5 million more in parks. NYC Parks is New York City’s principal provider of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. It is home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.
About Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School
Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School (BCAM) is a small public high school that prepares its students for 21st century academic, artistic, athletic, and professional success. Through a college- and career-rooted art-, media-, and technology-enriched curriculum, BCAM challenges its students to think critically and create knowledge in pursuit of excellence and meaningful social change. Athletically, BCAM provides a wide array of competitive, collaborative, and developmental athletic and fitness-based opportunities to its students. BCAM students are required to complete a four-year graduation portfolio process and are provided with numerous paid, internship, and partnership avenues.