Council Member Phil Wong has secured $22.7 million for his Queens district as part of the FY2027 Adopted Budget, according to QNS. The district covers Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village, and Maspeth.
The allocation is part of the $125.8 billion citywide budget deal that Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Council reached on Tuesday, hours before the June 30 deadline, per QNS.
Of the $22.7 million, $20.45 million is designated as capital funding for long-term construction and infrastructure, according to QNS. The single largest line item is a $6.5 million renovation of Painter’s Playground in Rego Park. An additional $3.5 million is set aside as an initial investment toward renovating the Middle Village Library. The rest of the capital spending covers auditorium renovations, bathroom and gym upgrades, classroom improvements, playground renovations, park lighting, and road resurfacing at schools and parks across the district.
“These are real investments in the things our residents use every day,” Wong said, according to QNS. “We secured funding for better school facilities, brighter and safer parks, upgraded playgrounds, road resurfacing and long-overdue improvements to our local library.”
The remaining $2.3 million is expense funding, which covers ongoing services rather than construction, per QNS. The funding goes to supplemental sanitation and cleanup services, graffiti removal, tree maintenance, parks programming, recycling and e-waste events, youth sports, afterschool activities, STEM and cultural programs, senior transportation, veterans services, and food assistance.
Four organizations in the district received funding in the budget, according to QNS. The Greater Ridgewood Youth Council receives $200,000 for afterschool and youth programming covering homework help, recreation, and cultural activities. South Asian Youth Action receives $55,000 for its Elmhurst Center Program’s year-round academic enrichment. Selfhelp Community Services receives $150,000 for its Alzheimer’s Resource Program. And Puppy Kitty NYCity receives $18,000 for spay and neuter services.
“This funding goes directly toward the basics that matter to our neighborhoods: cleaner streets, stronger youth programs, help for seniors and veterans, safer parks, support for local businesses and meaningful opportunities for our children,” Wong said in a statement, per QNS.
