Polo Grounds Towers

Manhattan

NeighborhoodStat

A team of residents from Polo Grounds Towers has been meeting with neighbors, city agencies, and community-based organizations to prioritize the community safety issues most important to their development. These teams are at the heart of NeighborhoodStat (or “NStat”).  The Polo Grounds NStat team meets regularly and has been trained in surveying their community and generating solutions with concrete implementation plans. Through this process, the NStat team seeks to improve the culture within Polo Grounds and to encourage community pride. They are engaging youth in projects to activate neglected physical space, including improving lighting, planting community gardens, and installing wayfinding signage.

The Polo Grounds Nstat Team led a participatory budgeting process through Local NeighborhoodStat in which residents were invited to submit their own ideas to strengthen safety and build community through built environment projects and/or social programming.

MAP Agency Partners

Since its launch in 2014, MAP agency partners have focused their programming to meet a variety of needs, ranging from support of seniors and kinship caregivers, mentorship of young adults, family-friendly programming of playgrounds, safe spaces for teens, assistance with public benefits, youth employment, and more.

Participate

The Polo Grounds Nstat Team is currently building a digital network to stay connected to one another during this time and to develop platforms to reimagine digital public space, co-create safety responses, support community building, and convene city agencies to leverage resources and collaboratively solve local problems. To learn about selected projects, or to participate in Polo Grounds Towers ongoing campaigns, contact the MAP Engagement Coordinator Donell Leverett at leverettd@courtinnovation.org or 347-255-5995

Community Stories

Purple Nails and Conversations

Polo Grounds Towers 

Infrastructure and Maintenance

The green spaces and infrastructure of Polo Grounds require revitalization and improved maintenance, as the neglect of these areas exacerbates feelings of isolation and strains community relationships. There is a need to build out a coordinated response to address several quality of life issues, including repairs to sidewalks, improved lighting and signage, proper garbage disposal, and a lack of clean, safe public space.

Youth Development

The Polo Grounds community has a high percentage of young adult residents who have been negatively impacted by crime and economic disparity. There is a need to identify and engage these young residents, offering behavioral health support and connection to resources to assist them in meeting their goals for personal and professional growth.

Justice

The barriers faced by young Polo Grounds residents affect their socioeconomic outcomes and often make them vulnerable to the effects of crime, violence, and interaction with the justice system. To combat this, the NStat team plans to engage young residents in prosocial activities that support their personal growth and provide a safe space to build positive relationships with local NYPD officers.

MAP Programs

Please note: In response to the COVID-19 emergency, some programs have been modified. For more information about modified program activities and availability, please click here

  • Human Resources Administration (HRA) Outreach Specialist is based at the Property Manager’s office on Wednesdays and the Senior Center on Tuesdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm. The HRA Outreach Specialist can help with benefits navigation, SNAP, Cash, and Emergency Assistance for rent arrears. HRA also holds pop-up events in Polo Grounds to make sure as many people have access to public benefits support as possible.
  • Department for the Aging (DFTA) Community Advocate is based at Polo Grounds on Wednesdays. The DFTA Community Advocate offers Parenting a Second Time Around groups, support groups and individual counseling for seniors and kinship caregivers, intergenerational activities, and more.
  • Conflict Mediation through the New York City Peace Institute offers free conflict mediation for pairs or groups. They also provide different training opportunities to those interested in learning mediation skills.
  • Next STEPS Mentoring for Youth through Children’s Village offers group mentorship for young people between the ages of 16-24 who may have experienced conflict and trauma. During group sessions, young people learn skills and build relationships with each other over hot meals.
  • Police Athletic League (PAL) Cornerstone Community Center offers free and engaging programming to Polo Grounds youth and teens. The community center is located at 3005 Frederick Douglass Blvd!
  • Green Jobs Training through Green City Force (GCF), an Americorps service-year program, trains young NYCHA residents (18-24 years of age) in clean energy and urban agriculture, and pays a monthly stipend and metrocard to Corps Members for their service.
  • Shape Up NYC through the Department of Parks and Recreation offers free, drop-in fitness classes in or near MAP developments. Shape Up classes don’t require any advanced registration or fee, and are conveniently located for MAP residents to engage with each other and enjoy low-barrier fitness activities.

Contacts