In the wake of a teenager’s killing inside Roy Wilkins Park this spring, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is putting $140 million toward a new community center he says will honor 15-year-old Jaden Pierre and expand services for Black youth across Southeast Queens. The pledge has been framed as both a memorial and an investment in prevention. Neighbors say the promise is meaningful but are already asking for details on programming, who will run the center and how long construction will take.
As announced by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards in a post on X, Richards wrote that "To honor Jaden and uplift Black youth across Southeast Queens, we're building a new, $140 million community center right in Roy Wilkins Park." His post tied the pledge to this year's Juneteenth festival at the park and to calls for safe, year-round youth programming. As reported by the Queens Daily Eagle, negotiations over who will operate the park facilities have been under way for more than a year and remain unresolved.
Background: Jaden Pierre and Park Safety
Fifteen-year-old Jaden Pierre was attacked and shot in Roy Wilkins Park on April 16, and the Queens District Attorney's Office says a teenager was later indicted in the case. According to the Queens District Attorney’s press release, an 18-year-old defendant was arraigned on counts including second-degree murder, gang assault and weapons possession. Local outlets covered vigils and community outrage after the killing, and elected officials used the moment to renew calls for more youth services in Southeast Queens.
Officials, Timeline And City Projects
Richards said he will work with city agencies and community groups to get the project built and that he hopes to name the facility in Jaden’s honor, though he did not offer a construction timetable in his post. The city has already committed money and planning resources to a new Roy Wilkins recreation center, including a $55 million investment for a competition-sized pool and repairs, as announced by the Mayor’s Office, and the Department of Design and Construction has circulated schematics and a design-build timeline. Council Member Nantasha Williams and the Southern Queens Park Association have been part of talks about interim operations and access to the planned building, and community meetings are expected as the project advances.
Community Response And Next Questions
Neighbors and nonprofit leaders welcomed the pledge but emphasized that money alone will not fix long-standing gaps in programming and jobs for young people. The Southern Queens Park Association and other groups have said they want written guarantees that existing cultural and youth programs will be preserved inside any new facility, per reporting by the Queens Daily Eagle. Residents said the city must spell out operator roles, hiring commitments and a timeline before the promise can be judged a success.
For now, Richards' announcement sets a political marker and a potential funding floor, with officials saying more details will follow as city agencies finalize design, procurement and community engagement schedules. This story will be updated as city agencies and the borough president's office release project timelines and agreements.
