Jackson Heights Community Center Receives $33.8 Million
Don Pollard
New York State and local officials announce $33.8 million in funding for the planned Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens community center in Jackson Heights. The facility is expected to provide youth programs, recreation, education, wellness services
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $33.8 million investment supporting the development of Jackson Heights' first community center and community swimming pool through the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens. The project includes $10 million in state funding, $9.3 million from the New York City Council and additional federal, state and private contributions. Planned for 70-02 34th Avenue, the facility will feature a gymnasium, basketball courts, a theater and recreational spaces, with programs serving children, families and seniors. Proposed services include after-school activities, early childhood education, workforce development, health and wellness, and arts programming. The center is expected to serve up to 10,000 children when completed, although a construction completion date was not provided.
Governor Hochul Announces $10 Million for Jackson Heights Community Center
$10 Million Grant Will Support Building Out First-Ever Community Center and Community Pool in Jackson Heights – Providing More Affordable Programming for Thousands of Families
Complements Governor’s Unplug and Play Initiative, Expanding Access to Safe, Modern Recreational Spaces for Families and Young People
Governor Kathy Hochul today was joined by Queens elected officials to announce a historic $33.8 million investment for the first ever community center in Jackson Heights through the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens. The State awarded $10 million for the center, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The grants will support the building out of Jackson Heights’ first-ever community center and community pool, serving thousands of New Yorkers each year with high-quality, affordable programming.
“I’ll never stop working to lower costs for families – and our investments are delivering more affordable programming for families here in Queens and all across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re not just building a community center — we’re helping kids learn skills and explore their talents, and as New York’s first mom Governor, I’ll always ensure our kids have a safe space to grow.”
In addition to the $10 million State grant, $9.3 million was secured by Council Member Shekar Krishnan and the New York City Council, $2 million from U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, $1 million by Congress Member Grace Meng, $1 million in New York State funding secured by Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, $250,000 by Assembly Member Steven Raga, and $250,000 by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz. The Boys & Girls Club also received $10 million from Metropolitan Park to acquire the site at 7002 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights.
The future Jackson Heights Variety Boys & Girls Club will include the first-ever community pool, indoor gym with basketball courts, and an auditorium-style theatre. It will serve as a hub for after-school and summer programs, senior programs, early childhood education, academic enrichment, workforce development, health and wellness initiatives, arts and cultural programming, recreational opportunities, and community events, creating opportunities for generations of Queens families. Residents will be invited to help shape potential additional uses for the site, including affordable housing, child care, outdoor sports and recreation facilities, and a rooftop farm. When built, this extraordinary investment will serve up to 10,000 kids and create a place where residents of all ages can gather to learn, play, and build community.
This project builds on the State's prior support for the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens's investments to better serve communities across the borough. In October 2025, Governor Hochul announced $8 million in State funding for the expansion of the Club's existing facility in Astoria, which is currently underway. That project will deliver a brand new, state-of-the-art Astoria Clubhouse featuring a gymnasium, swimming pool and aquatic center, planetarium and other amenities as part of a broader $300 million redevelopment that will also create more than 200 affordable housing units and other community facilities.
“I’ll never stop working to lower costs for families – and our investments are delivering more affordable programming for families here in Queens and all across New York.”
Governor Hochul
DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “Every community deserves places where young people can learn, stay active and spend time together in a safe, welcoming environment. Governor Hochul's $10 million investment will help bring a new community center and swimming pool to Jackson Heights, creating more opportunities for children and families in one of New York City's most diverse neighborhoods. DASNY is proud to administer this funding and support the Boys & Girls Club of Queens as it works to bring this important community resource to life.”
Today’s announcement complements Governor Hochul’s Unplug and Play Initiative. Unplug and Play is making statewide investments in recreational infrastructure that give children and families more opportunities to be active, spend time outdoors, and connect with one another. The initiative includes New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS), which has awarded more than $67.5 million for 89 projects across all 10 regions of New York State. Additionally, it includes the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS), which has awarded nearly $260 million to 79 projects to build and improve swimming facilities across New York State, and Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), which has awarded $100 million to 30 community center projects. An additional $75 million has been made available for a second round of NY BRICKS funding.
Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens CEO Costa Constantinides said, “This is one of the most significant moments in our organization's history. Today we have secured the foundation for something that generations of families have dreamed about: a permanent home for the Jackson Heights community. But this is only the beginning. We are grateful today for these transformational funding gifts from the public and private sector. Building a world-class community center will require the support of additional public, private, corporate, and philanthropic partners who share our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.”
Senator Charles Schumer said, “I’m proud to deliver $2 million in federal funding for a new Boys & Girls Club community center in Jackson Heights, Queens. This project will allow Variety Boys & Girls Club to reach more children and expand its free afterschool programming, helping more young people thrive. I commend Governor Hochul for expanding access to safe, modern recreational spaces for kids and families across New York, and I’ll keep fighting to secure the resources that help organizations like Variety Boys & Girls Club give children the safe, supportive spaces and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and succeed.”
Representative Grace Meng said, “It is a great day for Jackson Heights with the plans for this great community center finally getting off the ground. I am so excited that the facility is now moving forward and I’m proud to have secured important federal funding for the project.Community centers like this are an example of the types of crucial investments we should be making in our neighborhoods. I cannot wait until this facility is fully constructed and complete. I’m already looking forward to it, and the benefits it will bring to the area.”
Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said, “As a mom and someone who represents Jackson Heights, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find quality enrichment programs for our children close to home. I’ve had to send my own child outside of our neighborhood to access these opportunities, and I know so many families in our community face that same reality. Parents should not have to look beyond their own neighborhood for spaces where their children can feel safe, stay active, discover their talents, and build connections with their neighbors. This $10 million investment brings us closer to changing that by creating Jackson Heights’ first community center and pool, giving our young people a place to grow and our families a place to come together. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul and the Salah M. Hassanein Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens for helping move this vision forward. Our children deserve more than a place to pass the time; they deserve spaces where they can grow, thrive, and see a future full of possibilities.”
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz said, “This community center is like a dream coming true. For years we have sought a community space that celebrates and recognizes our rich diversity, and it will now happen. Our neighbors will finally have a place where they can enjoy sports, the arts, and other activities to help them connect with other neighbors. In an urban neighborhood like Jackson Heights, it is critical to have a space where families can safely gather and access recreational and cultural opportunities. I want to thank Governor Hochul for this major investment, as well as all those who helped bring this project to reality including Borough President Richards, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and Assembly Members Raga and González-Rojas who, along with my office, allocated the financial support to make it a reality. I truly look forward to seeing this center benefit the people of Jackson Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods for years to come.”
Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “Every child in Queens deserves a place where they can learn, play, and thrive, regardless of their family's income or background. For working families in Jackson Heights, this $10 million investment means greater access to after-school programs, recreation, and a community pool right in their own neighborhood. I thank Governor Hochul for her Unplug and Play initiative and enduring commitment to our young people, and the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens for its decades of service to our children and families.”
Senator Kristen Gillibrand said, “This critical funding will help support our Jackson Heights community with an updated community center. From a new community pool to new recreational spaces, this modernized space will serve neighbors of all ages. I look forward to visiting the completed community center.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “In a time when distractions like social media, technology and gun violence swirl around our children like never before, community centers are exactly the kind of safe havens they need to build healthy habits and relationships. This $10 million allocation in creating exactly that kind of space for a community that has long lacked one will change countless lives. Thank you to Governor Hochul for this incredible investment and to the life-saving Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens for its dedication to the mission to uplift kids in Astoria and, now, Jackson Heights.”
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said, “Our city’s community centers provide young people with the space and freedom to learn, play sports, engage in culture, and build strong ties among one another and connect more deeply with their community. The Council is proud to provide more than $9 million in funding towards Jackson Heights' first-ever Jackson Heights Variety Boys & Girls Club Community Center, which will allow the organization to reach thousands more kids a year and deliver the first-ever public pool in Jackson Heights. I thank Council Member Krishnan, Governor Hochul and everyone who contributed to this project for helping to make this investment happen.
New York City Councilmember Shekar Krishnan said, “Jackson Heights is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in New York City. Sadly, for too long our community has lacked the kind of dedicated public gathering space that other neighborhoods take for granted. That is why I am so proud to have secured $9.3 million with my colleagues in the New York City Council to help make the first-ever community center in Jackson Heights a reality, and grateful to all our other partners for their investments to make this a reality. This will be a place built for and shaped by our neighbors. A home for our children, our families, our seniors, and the incredible organizations that make Jackson Heights so special.”
Metropolitan Park Chief of Staff Michael Sullivan said, “Metropolitan Park is about creating opportunities for Queens, and that commitment doesn’t stop at the boundaries of our site. Jackson Heights, Corona and East Elmhurst are some of the most vibrant communities in New York City and we heard loud and clear from our neighbors that they need a new community center to meet the area’s growing needs.”
Hard Rock International Chief of Staff Sean Caffery said, “We’re proud to make this $10 million investment and to stand alongside our elected officials, community leaders, and the Variety Boys & Girls Club to help turn a long-held community vision into reality. This is the kind of investment that can make a difference for generations to come.”
Source: New York Governor's Office
