Frequently asked · Preguntas frecuentes
Questions, answered.
About the project, the plan, the grant, and how to be part of the work.
Sobre el proyecto, el plan, la subvención y cómo participar.
About Newburgh Plays
What is Newburgh Plays? +
A community-led coalition of Newburgh parents, neighbors, and partner organizations advocating for every playground in the City of Newburgh. We are independent of any one organization, agency, or political term. We meet monthly. New members are always welcome.
Is this a long-term project, or just about Delano-Hitch? +
Long-term. The reason Delano-Hitch is the active campaign is two things at once: (1) the 2022 Scenic Hudson Inventory and Assessment placed Delano-Hitch in its highest-priority "Re-Envision" tier, and (2) the State of New York opened a once-in-a-generation NY PLAYS funding window that closes June 15, 2026. Those two facts pointed at the same park, so we are pursuing it. The bigger work is every playground in the city: we plan to advocate for renewal, redesign, and new playgrounds across all five wards over the next five to ten years.
What about my neighborhood's playground? +
Every Newburgh playground is in scope. The 2022 Scenic Hudson assessment ranked each one and recommended either Maintain, Renew, or Re-Envision. Audrey Carey, Hasbrouck Street, Tyrone Crabb, and Xavier Lunan all appear in the Renew or Re-Envision tier. After the Delano-Hitch grant cycle, the next campaigns line up by tier and by neighborhood need. The citywide survey is how you tell us where to push first.
Are you the City government? +
No. Newburgh Plays is a community group. The City of Newburgh is the official applicant for the NY PLAYS grant and would own and maintain the new playground. Newburgh Plays organized the case, the design, and the community input. The two are partners.
The Delano-Hitch grant
Why this park first? +
The 2022 Scenic Hudson Inventory placed Delano-Hitch in the highest-priority Re-Envision tier. The City's largest park lost both of its playgrounds years ago and has not had play infrastructure since. The site is adjacent to the new $15M Aquatic Center, served by four transit routes, and has the Newburgh Armory Unity Center across the street as the natural community engagement venue. The same state pipeline that funded the pool is now open for the playground.
How much does it cost? +
The full vision is a $2.5M grant request with a $500,000 City match. There are also two scaled-down scenarios on the Delano-Hitch page if the State funds at a lower level.
What if you do not win the grant? +
The site advocacy continues. The community engagement, the design work, the Council resolutions, and the partnership network all carry forward into the next funding cycle. NY PLAYS opens again, and other state and federal programs fund similar work. The Delano-Hitch design is a real plan we will keep advancing regardless of which check arrives first.
When would the playground actually open? +
Application due June 15, 2026. State awards announced August 2026. Design development through late 2026. Construction documents and bidding in 2027. Opening targeted for 2028.
Who will maintain it? +
The City of Newburgh's Department of Public Works owns and maintains all city parks. The new playground would be folded into the same maintenance program as the Aquatic Center next door.
Getting involved
How can I help? +
Take the citywide survey, sign up for updates, share the site with neighbors, or come to an event. The Get Involved page has six concrete options. The most useful thing right now is taking the survey: it shapes both the grant application and the citywide priorities for the years after.
Can my organization sign on as a partner? +
Yes. Email us and we will set up a conversation. The current partner list is on the Community page; we are actively expanding it.
Can I donate? +
Not yet. We hope to file as a 501(c)(3) public charity later this year if we build enough momentum and sign up enough parents to back the City's effort. Until then, sign up for updates and we will let you know the day donations open. The Delano-Hitch campaign itself is funded by the State grant plus the City match, not by donations.
Why not put kids' photos on the site? +
Photos of children require permission from their parents and a thoughtful release process. Once we run the community engagement event at the Armory, photos with proper consent will go on the site. Until then, the design is told through plans, references, and adult voices.
Still have a question? · ¿Otra pregunta?
Ask us directly.
Email us at newburghplaygrounds@gmail.com and we will get back to you within a few days.
Escríbenos a newburghplaygrounds@gmail.com y te respondemos en unos días.
See how to get involved →