AUDREY CAREY · 251 LIBERTY STREET, NEWBURGH, NY 12550
Audrey Carey Park
Parque Audrey Carey
A 0.6-acre neighborhood playground on Liberty Street, well-loved and ready for a refresh.
Assessment · Evaluación
Dedicated on November 8, 2004, Audrey Carey Park sits at the corner of Liberty and Farrington Streets, honoring former Mayor Audrey L. Carey, the first African American woman to serve as mayor of any city in New York State. Carey won a four-way race in 1991 and went on to serve two terms, breaking a barrier that had stood across every city in the state. In June 2006, the park was re-dedicated after the addition of playground equipment and other amenities for active play for neighborhood children, a transformation initiated by community advocate Natasha Cotton and others.
The park sits at the heart of Newburgh’s East End, a neighborhood that has seen remarkable reinvestment in recent years. The surrounding block is now part of the Highpoint campus, developed by RUPCO as part of the East End II project, which converted a former United Methodist Church into a community hub housing an event space, a co-working lounge for women of color, a health center, and the home of Newburgh YouthBuild. Together, the park and its surroundings reflect both the civic legacy Mayor Carey built and the ongoing determination of this neighborhood to rebuild.
The 2022 Scenic Hudson Inventory rates Audrey Carey “Renew”, meaning the bones of the park are sound. The play structure is functional but dated. The surfaces show wear. The City added a splash pad in June 2023, which is an asset worth keeping. Targeted investment would extend this park’s useful life by a decade and add inclusive features it currently lacks.
Photo gallery · Galería
Audrey Carey today.
Every current photo, full-size. Tap to inspect.
What's there now · Lo que hay hoy
- Composite play structure for school-age kids
- A splash pad installed by the City in June 2023
- Asphalt surfacing showing wear
- Limited shade, no caregiver seating beyond two benches
What the assessment recommends · Recomendaciones
- Resurface the play area in PIP rubber for fall protection and accessibility
- Add inclusive swings and a wheelchair-transfer slide
- Plant shade trees on the west and south edges
- Add caregiver seating with sight lines into the play area
- Keep and integrate the existing splash pad into the refresh
The neighborhood it serves
Families across Newburgh's East End and North End. Walking distance from Liberty, Lander, South Miller, Carpenter, and the blocks running north toward Broadway.
Opportunities · Oportunidades
- Strong walk-up traffic from immediate neighborhood
- Refresh fits the Scenic Hudson "Renew" recommendation
- Could become a pilot for inclusive swing retrofits citywide
Get involved at this park · Participa en este parque
Report an issue. Start a playgroup.
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Broken equipment, hazards, lighting, drainage. We log it and forward to the City.
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