New York Road Runners (NYRR) and New Balance have announced they will break ground on a running track refurbishment at Star Spangled Playground in Brooklyn, NY.
The project is in partnership with NYC Parks through its Adopt–a–Park program, which enables businesses and non–profit organisations to directly invest in the improvement of parks across the five boroughs.
The groundbreaking marks the first named project under a track refurbishment initiative announced in November 2025 during TCS New York City Marathon race week, as part of the renewal of the long–standing partnership between the two organisations. They committed to refurbishing a number of local tracks beginning in 2026, with the goal of increasing access to running for students across New York City’s five boroughs.
Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, said “Every runner’s journey starts somewhere, and for many young people across New York City, it starts on a local track. As the non–profit that ‘runs’ New York City, we believe every New Yorker should have access to safe, welcoming spaces to move, play, and discover the transformative power of running. Together with New Balance and NYC Parks, we’re proud to invest in community spaces that help inspire the next generation to take that first step and build healthier, more connected communities.”
Star Spangled Playground is the first site under this commitment to move into construction. The project will completely revamp the site’s running track, replacing it with a Mondo synthetic running surface. It will also add new multi–tiered bleachers and benches for seating, and upgrade the adult fitness equipment and safety surface at the venue.
Tom Carleo, Vice President of Running, North America at New Balance, said “Helping people discover running is core to who we are at New Balance. Tracks like Star Spangled Playground are where these future athletes and leaders begin their path towards a lifelong healthy lifestyle. Partnering with NYRR has allowed us to create greater access to safe spaces for young runners across the city and we’re proud that this is the first of a long–term commitment to support the community.”
Located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, Star Spangled Playground is adjacent to several public schools and is heavily used for a variety of sports. In addition to the running track, the playground features basketball courts, handball courts and a multi–use artificial turf field.
Tricia Shimamura, NYC Parks Commissioner, said “Star Spangled Playground is an essential place for local students and Clinton Hill community members to play and work out, and this project will deliver a brand–new running track and new adult fitness area, along with new bleachers. We’re grateful to New York Road Runners and New Balance for their partnership in transforming this site into a high–quality amenity that will be enjoyed by Brooklynites for many years to come.”
The refurbishment is expected to be completed late summer/early autumn 2026. A ribbon–cutting celebration will be held upon the track’s reopening.
New York Road Runners is a New York City–based non–profit organisation that serves more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school–based programs. It produces more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. New Balance is an international athletic brand headquartered in Boston, MA. The company employs 14,000 associates around the globe and reported worldwide sales of US$9.2 billion in 2025.
www.nyrr.org
www.newbalance.com
