For generations of children and neighbors, the PS/IS 187 schoolyard has been more than a place to play. It is where students spend recess, families gather, friendships grow, and some of our most treasured neighborhood memories are made. It is an essential shared space in a densely populated community.

Nevertheless, many PS/IS 187 parents and teachers invested time to find a solution to reduce class sizes at PS/IS 187 and agreed to build a small 4-story annex that will add ~9 classes. However, the community did not agree to add 342 seats (or 377 depending on the source) to the school, and it should not cost $61 million. These numbers suggest that the new building will take away most of the schoolyard.

We want PS/IS 187 students to have the classrooms and support they need, but reducing class size should not come at the expense of the outdoor space those same students rely on.  We oppose any school expansion that would significantly reduce the schoolyard’s current footprint.

Specifically, our concerns are as follows:

1. The loss of any significant portion of the current PS/IS 187 schoolyard footprint due to additional building construction would have devastating effects on both current students and community members. The immediate neighborhood needs more shared community space, not to lose what it currently has.

2. The PSIS187 schoolyard serves more than 750 students each school day. Reducing the schoolyard size in half will likely deeply impact the ability of every student to have adequate daily outdoor access during the school day. The school was given a grant close to $1 million to renovate the playground for pre-k-3rd grade students and another grant to build a soccer pit. How will construction impact students’ access to it?

3. The PS/IS187 schoolyard also serves the entire community in the afternoon and on weekends. It is a cherished space for kids and adults alike, hosting countless activities that can't be replicated at Bennett, Javits Playground, or anywhere else.

4. In 2024, 57% of the School Construction Authority capital improvement projects were not finished on time, suggesting that the proposed 3-year plan for PS/IS 187 will most likely take years longer than initially forecast.

5. While few doubt the benefits of smaller class size, there are equally valid positives to students having access to adequate outdoor recess. A multi-year construction expansion that will decimate the vast majority of the schoolyard's footprint will not provide the students the play area they need.

6. Constructing a massive extension of the current building will have detrimental, real-world implications on neighborhood life. Additional traffic, more students, and increased noise pollution will negatively affect quality of life, property value, and educational outcomes.

7. Many of the current staff of PS/IS 187 expressed significant concerns about the building expansion plans.

8.  The lack of transparent communication between the broader community and city officials has been concerning. Open, clear dialogue is necessary to create real solutions.

The PS/IS 187 schoolyard, as is, remains a vital community asset, and its current footprint must be preserved for the students of today, as well as the neighborhood residents of tomorrow.

We believe there are many possible solutions to address the class size problem that are much better than the current expansion plans, and they could include:

·      Stop incentivizing school administration to accept students from outside the zone by matching the "Fair Student Funding" to the law.

·      Limiting Kindergarten enrollment to students living in the school zone and reducing enrollment of 6th-grade students from outside the zone to comply with the law. The city forecasts that the district will see a 30% drop in elementary-school students over the next decade, which will reduce class sizes as long as schools are not allowed to over-enroll.

·     Properly utilizing current DOE space within the district by strengthening neighboring schools and organically reducing class size at PS/IS187.

·      Properly utilizing current DOE space by moving 187 Middle School students to another location (there are many empty classes in the area).

 ·      And many other options

We call on the New York City Department of Education and School Construction Authority to PAUSE planning for any expansion that would reduce the PS/IS 187 schoolyard until they:

1. Hold a public hearing accessible to school families, staff, and neighborhood residents.
2. Share the proposed plans, enrollment projections, construction timeline, and assessments of schoolyard and neighborhood impacts.
3. Thoroughly evaluate feasible alternatives, including options that preserve the schoolyard’s current footprint.
4. Explain publicly how community input will shape the final decision.

The schoolyard belongs in the conversation about what students need. Please sign this petition to ask the city to hear the community, examine every viable option, and preserve this vital space for today’s students and future generations.

Please share this with all neighbors and parents in District 6. There is no need to be a parent at PS/IS187 to sign, the construction is planned to start in 2027 and end in 2030, so most current PS/IS187 students will only attend the school during the construction. Share your memories from the schoolyard in the public comment (Reasons for