Mayor Adams breaks ground on first new Staten Island rec center in 14 years

NEW YORK - Mayor Eric Adams was on Staten Island Friday to break ground on a new recreation center that will be built in Tompkinsville. 

The center will be named in memory of Mary Cali Dalton, was the Parks Department's chief of recreation for Staten Island. 

"This is the first recreation center on Staten Island in 14 years. Fourteen years, and it's a combined effect of not only celebrating the opening, but also celebrating a life of commitment and dedication to the people of Staten Island," Adams said. 

The center will span 45,000 square feet on the waterfront. It will have courts, indoor and outdoor tracks, fitness and cardio rooms, and charging stations for electric vehicles. 

"For too long, Staten Island has been neglected and ignored, but this administration is changing that. From opening part of Freshkills Park to expanding the Staten Island Compost Facility, and now, building a recreational center here for the first time in 14 years, we're delivering on our vision for a better Staten Island," Adams said. "The Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center will be a community hub where Staten Islanders can learn, play, and enjoy public space together, and it is a fitting tribute to Mary Cali Dalton, a leader who understood the power of parks and public space. Our administration looks forward to continuing to invest in Staten Island — whether through parks, jobs, housing, or quality of life improvements — and delivering for all of the borough's residents."  

"This center will be a gem of the Parks system, offering North Shore residents a variety of recreational amenities and a wealth of programming right in their own community," said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. "This marks the second recent groundbreaking for new recreation center construction under Mayor Adams, reinforcing this administration's commitment to increasing equitable access to green space and park facilities. We're thrilled that the facility will feature solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations, and also that the design build process employed for this project will allow it to be completed two years faster than usual."