A Place to Learn, a Place to Play: PS 110 Gets a Library and Playground

As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But at PS 110, the modest and cozy elementary school nestled on the Southeast corner of Greenpoint’s McGolrick Park, traditional classroom work and recreational play are treated as two sides of the same educational coin. As of last Wednesday, their students will have more work and play opportunities than ever before as administrators, educators and community leaders celebrated the dual grand opening of the PS 110 on-site library and playground.
After four years of waiting, both the children’s library—featuring more than 8,000 titles—and the playground, which boasts a jungle gym structure equipped with swings and slides, and various line games like hopscotch, have been unveiled to the public, and are now open for use.
“It’s been four or five years in the making,” Principal Anna Cano said, trying to contain her excitement. “It all starts to blur! But I’ve been here for over 25 years, and this is our home. And now, the school year is off to a great start.”
Councilmember David Yassky provided the majority of the $200,000 cost of the library, while the funding for the playground—approximately $100,000—was contributed by a collection of private donors, as well as the educational non-profit, Out 2 Play.

While teachers, administrators and community members believe that an on-site children’s library is an invaluable edition to the PS 110 campus, which is a 15-minute walk from the closest public library, they also emphasized the importance of having a fully-functional, diverse and dynamic playground available, explaining that physical exercise, recreation and relaxation are important elements of a well-rounded education.
“The kids are just running, running, running to the jungle gym!” said Vice Principal Anna Roccihio, as she began to tear up. “They need creative play, it helps them learn. It’s so important for children to exercise, form social skills and just be kids! We’re so worried about test scores we often don’t let them be children. And the library: You just see kids who couldn’t wait to go look at all the books—not computers or video games—books! It’s an educators dream.”
The playground and library are certainly welcome additions to PS 110, though there is more work to be done: the majority of their arts programs are in danger of being cut. PS 110 currently relies on residencies and partnerships with singers, dancers and actors to develop visual and performance arts curricula; however, these programs severely underfunded. In previous years, each grade has spent either one semester or an entire year taking courses in one sector of the arts. Last year PS 110 kindergartners worked with an actor, first graders worked with a dancer, second graders learned about percussion with a professional drummer, third graders partook in a musical theater workshop, fourth graders box-stepped with a ballroom dance instructor and fifth graders participated in a year-long Shakespeare program.
In order to ensure that these programs will continue, Cano and Roccihio implored attendees of Wednesday’s unveiling—among whom were Carolina Asirifi of ExxonMobil, which donated approximately $30,000 to the school for new computer labs, and Assemblyman Joe Lentol, a long-time friend and community advocate—to lend a hand.
“A politician is probably a frustrated actor,” Lentol said with a chuckle. “If I had gone another way, I would have pursued a career in the arts, which are crucial for education. Art builds confidence in our students, and helps our kids grow.”