News Releases

BROOKLYN – The Barclays/Nets Community Alliance, which includes the partnership among Barclays, the Nets, and Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), today unveiled a new playground at Public School 19 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included: City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Barclays Capital Chief Administrative Officer for the Americas Gerard LaRocca, Nets CEO Brett Yormark, Out2Play Executive Director Andrea Wenner, and P.S. 19 Principal Maria Witherspoon. Other attendees included representatives from FCRC, and parents, staff, and students from P.S. 19. Nets mascot Sly was there to entertain the students.

This newly developed playground marks the first of eight Brooklyn playgrounds that will be funded in part by a $150,000 grant by the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance to Out2Play, Inc, a non-profit dedicated to building and refurbishing playgrounds throughout the New York City public school system.  City Councilwoman Reyna is the public sponsor of the first of eight playgrounds being built in partnership with the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance.

The features of the new playground include: kickball and baseball diamond; basketball court; running track; play structure with slides; monkey bars; benches; and trees.

Created in November 2007, the Alliance is committed to the physical and educational development of youth in Brooklyn and surrounding communities. In January 2007 Barclays, the Nets, and FCRC announced that the future Frank Gehry-designed arena at Atlantic Yards would be named the Barclays Center. 

The Alliance will invest $1 million per year in local non-profits that work to improve the lives of young people in the borough and surrounding communities through sports and other activities, including education and health care.

“We are delighted to provide the children from P.S. 19 with this wonderful new playground,” said Gerard LaRocca, Chief Administrative Officer, Americas, at Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC. “Our goal with the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance is to enrich the lives of the Brooklyn community and to foster youth development. Our grant for this playground is the first of many that will help to provide support and resources to local communities in Brooklyn.” 

“We are thrilled to unveil this terrific playground for the kids of P.S. 19 and we couldn’t be happier to partner with Barclays to ensure that programs benefiting children in Brooklyn are able to flourish,” Nets CEO Brett Yormark said.

Andrea Wenner, founder and Executive Director of Out2Play, took the opportunity at the playground today to present over-sized thank you cards and plaques to those on hand that helped make the new playground a reality. Students of P.S. 19 demonstrated their new play equipment, basketball court, track and some of the black top games installed by Out2Play.

“The future of this city lies in the hands of today’s youth and nurturing their health and development should be a top priority,” Wenner said.  “The generous support of the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance demonstrates they share our commitment to improving their communities and quality of life.”

"I am honored to contribute to a project that provides our children with much-needed play space," said co-funder, Council Member Diana Reyna.  “I deeply thank the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance for its support and Out2Play, which bestows an invaluable gift upon the city’s youth.”

“Our schools must be more than just computers, classrooms and chalkboards—they should be an oasis for students so they can become physically strong and be encouraged to exercise not only as children, but for their entire lives,” Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Out2Play and Andrea Wenner, as well as the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance, students at P.S. 19 will have the opportunity to play games, exercise, experience the great outdoors and—who knows—maybe even grow up and become Brooklyn’s newest superstar to play at the Barclays Center!”

Funded with both public and private money, Out2Play’s playground renovations transform schools’ asphalt lots into safe, stimulating and engaging play spaces. Raising funds from philanthropic donations, corporate sponsorships, and government, Out2Play is now implementing a city-wide program to restore the school system’s playgrounds.

Students at the new playgrounds will have an opportunity to utilize the new play spaces during programmed recess time, during physical education classes when appropriate, and during other times when teachers take classes outdoors as part of academic studies.  Students and local residents may also benefit in situations in which schools elect to keep their playgrounds open to the public during non-school hours. 

Contacts:

Barry Baum, Nets, 917-847-1737
Peter Truell, Barclays, 212-412-7576 (office), 917-826-8636 (cell)
John Marino, Out2Play, 212-889-0808

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 150,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 47 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website http://www.barclays.com.

About Forest City Ratner Companies

Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, owns and operates 32 properties in the New York metropolitan area. Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is a $10.9 billion NYSE-listed national real estate company. The Company is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States.

About Out 2 Play

Out2Play, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building and refurbishing playgrounds throughout the New York City public school system.  With more than half of New York City elementary schools lacking playground access, Out2Play is implementing a large-scale, city-wide program to give New York City school children this much needed resource.  The program enhances the quality of life of these children and provides them with both health benefits and educational opportunities.