On December 3, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, local elected officials and community leaders for the groundbreaking on a new multi-purpose synthetic turf ballfield and a renovated bluestone plaza area in J.J. Byrne Park. The ceremony also marked the official renaming of J.J. Byrne Park to Washington Park in honor of its place in American history. J.J. Byrne served as Brooklyn Borough President from 1926-1930. His name will remain on the park’s playground.

“Ordinarily, I would say, ‘See, yet another example of borough presidents getting no respect!’ But if it means getting bumped for the father of our nation, that’s perfectly OK, and I’m pleased that the most active part of this beautiful park—the playground—will be named for a fellow ‘beep.’ I suspect that J.J. Byrne is smiling down on all of us—happy that the park on this historic site recognizes his legacy as well as that of another great contributor to the history of Brooklyn, George Washington.”