That cracked slab of asphalt by the McCarren Park tennis courts is finally getting a full‑scale overhaul, and this time Williamsburg neighbors get to help call the plays. Roughly $15 million is on the table to redo the long‑suffering field, which locals have been using as an unofficial dog run and pick‑up sports spot despite standing water, broken hoops and lumpy pavement. City planners say the project will combine heavy underground drainage work with community‑picked amenities, and a public input session on May 7 will let residents weigh in on what goes on top.
Big fix underneath the surface
City officials are pitching the renovation as a major green‑infrastructure job aimed squarely at the drainage mess that has been warping the asphalt for years. According to News 12, Councilmember Lincoln Restler said the field currently has no drainage system at all, and the redesign will add underground water‑retention tanks intended to ease flooding on nearby blocks. The subsurface work is meant to catch stormwater that now sits on the slab instead of sending it straight into already stressed sewers.
Where the money comes from
The roughly $15 million price tag is being pulled together from several City Council capital lines and other allocations folded into broader city capital planning. The City Council’s FY25 supporting detail lists multiple entries for a “McCarren Park Asphalt Lot,” according to City Council budget documents. Neighborhood coverage has also noted that elected officials previously celebrated about $14.7 million in funding for the project and that the Department of Environmental Protection is expected to partner on the stormwater work below the surface, per Greenpointers.
Dog run is in, and the rest is up to you
One thing is already locked in: a real, purpose‑built dog run. Councilmember Restler’s office says the dog area is baked into the plan and that local funding has been secured specifically for it, according to LincolnRestler.nyc. Above ground, everything else is still on the table. Residents and league organizers will help pick the details at the May 7 meeting, from pickleball courts to athletic turf to more lawn and trees. Neighbors told News 12 the lot is already a go‑to hangout for dog owners, and many say they plan to bring those daily realities with them into the design conversation.
Timeline and what’s next
The project is now heading into a public design phase, with construction expected to roll out in stages over multiple fiscal years. Greenpointers reported a target completion date around 2029 and noted that the way the capital funds are structured points to phased work rather than a single, all‑at‑once build. City staff and council aides say residents who cannot make it to the May 7 session will still get chances to submit comments in writing before the final design is locked in.
