Culture and recreational activities merge in the great outdoors at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens.
The city is home to more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities across the five boroughs, including over 400 parks in Queens. Roy Wilkins Park is named after a civil rights leader and former National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president and provides 54-acres for activities.
“Ever since the pandemic, we realize the importance of being connected, still staying connected, being safe, being outdoors, and still being able to intertwine with our people, our fellow people in the community,” Karen Lawson, CEO of SEQ Cleanup, said.
What You Need To Know
- Roy Wilkins Park hosts a number of outdoor concertsm such as the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival — one of the largest celebrations of Caribbean culture in the city that brings tens of thousands of people to Queens every year
- Beyond the 54-acres of green space, the park is also home to the Black Spectrum Theatre, a 325-seat performing arts center dedicated to preserving Black history and culture
- Last year, the city announced plans to build a new $92 million state-of-the-art recreation center
- While park-goers are excited about the future, there is no timeline yet for construction
Lawson, also known as DJ Nett, was born and raised in Southeast Queens. She runs SEQ Cleanup, a not-for-profit group that provides park cleanup initiatives and free youth programming in the park.
“The youth are our future. So it’s all about making sure this next generation knows the importance of their mental wellness, their physical wellness, and their spirituality as well,” Lawson said.
From a music program for budding young DJs, to yoga and fitness challenges, it’s an outlet for local kids like Taylor Harris-Brown.
“It’s fun because people have fun, and it’s is fun for me too,” Harris-Brown said.
The programming is funded by grants from Citizens Committee for NYC and Partnerships for Parks.
“Connecting to nature is what we all need. Park space allows us to be grounded in ourselves and grounded in what’s possible by slowing everything down,” Rahsaan Harris, CEO, Citizens Committee for NYC, said.
For decades, the Southern Queens Park Association maintained the park. The group had a lease with the city to use the park as its space for the program.
But in recent years, the upkeep became too much for the group. Last October, the Parks Department took over the maintenance of the 54-acre park.
“This is a gem, within a gem of a community,” Susan Friedman, Southeast Queens administrator for NYC Parks, said. “New York City is a rushed city, so when you come to a park like this, you get to sit on a bench, you get to plant, you get to garden. You get to enjoy the open air space.”
Roy Wilkins Park hosts several outdoor concerts, such as the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival — one of the largest celebrations of Caribbean culture in the city that brings tens of thousands of people to Queens every year.
Beyond the acres of green space, the park is also home to the Black Spectrum Theatre, a 325-seat performing arts center dedicated to preserving Black history and culture.
Last year, the city announced plans for a new $92 million state-of-the-art recreation center.
“More programming, more physical fitness,” Lawson said.
While park-goers are excited about the future, there is no timeline yet for construction.