Mayor Mamdani Opens Shirley Chisholm Rec Center

New $141 million facility named after pioneering Congresswoman opens in East Flatbush

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani presided over the opening of the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, a $141 million facility named after the first Black woman elected to Congress. The center features a range of amenities including gymnasiums, pools, walking tracks, business media labs, classrooms, and more, and is intended to serve as a hub for community activities and youth programs in the neighborhood.

Why it matters

The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center represents a major investment in public infrastructure and community resources for the East Flatbush neighborhood, which has historically lacked access to such facilities. The center is named after a pioneering Black political leader who represented the area in Congress, honoring her legacy of advocacy and trailblazing.

The details

The recreation center project took years of planning and advocacy by community members, elected officials, and other stakeholders to bring to fruition. It features a range of amenities including basketball and volleyball courts, a pool, pickleball courts, a teaching kitchen, and a state-of-the-art media lab named after local business leader Dr. Roy Hastick. The center will offer free access for youth under 24 and low-cost programming for all New Yorkers.

  • The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center project began over 13 years ago when community members and elected officials first started advocating for the facility.
  • Construction on the $141 million center began in 2019 and was completed in early 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who presided over the opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center.

Jumaane Williams

The current public advocate for New York City, who was a City Council member and helped initiate the recreation center project over a decade ago.

Farah Louis

The City Council member representing the district where the recreation center is located, who helped secure funding and oversee the project's completion.

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

The New York State Assemblywoman representing the district where the recreation center is located, who was involved in the initial planning stages.

Shirley Chisholm

The pioneering Congresswoman and Brooklyn native for whom the recreation center is named, known for her trailblazing political career and motto of being "unbought and unbossed."

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What they’re saying

“This center will remain low-cost to all New Yorkers and free to anyone under the age of 24. So, allow me to correct myself, anyone of any age will be able to start a podcast here.”

— Mayor Zohran Mamdani

“Accessible and affordable shared spaces like this, strengthen the bonds between neighborhoods. They make our lives not just safer, but more dignified and more joyful.”

— Tricia Shimamura, Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation

“This is a moment of great pride where we, as leaders, need to continue her legacy to embody her motto, "Unbought and unbossed," like you see on this shirt.”

— Monique Chandler-Waterman, New York State Assemblywoman

What’s next

The city plans to continue investing in new recreation centers across New York, with the Shirley Chisholm facility serving as a model for future projects.

The takeaway

The opening of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center represents a major victory for the East Flatbush community, which fought for years to secure this critical public resource. The center will provide much-needed youth programming, community space, and recreational amenities, honoring the legacy of a pioneering political leader.