New York Road Runners and New Balance broke ground on Wednesday on a full refurbishment of the running track at Star Spangled Playground in Brooklyn, the first construction project in a multi-year plan to overhaul local tracks across the five boroughs.
The work is being carried out in partnership with NYC Parks through its Adopt-a-Park program, which lets businesses and nonprofits invest directly in neighborhood parks. When the track at Star Spangled reopens in late summer or early fall, it will have a new Mondo synthetic surface, multi-tiered bleachers and benches, and upgraded adult fitness equipment with new safety surfacing. According to NYRR’s announcement, the project is the first named site under a broader commitment between the two organizations.
The Clinton Hill playground sits next to several public schools and gets steady use from local students and residents. Alongside the track, the site has basketball and handball courts and a multi-use artificial turf field that hosts football and soccer.
A partnership that began at the marathon
The Star Spangled project is the first named site under a refurbishment initiative that NYRR and New Balance announced in November 2025 during TCS New York City Marathon race week. The announcement coincided with the renewal of the two organizations’ long-standing partnership, and committed them to fixing up a series of tracks beginning in 2026 to expand running access for students across the city.
“Every runner’s journey starts somewhere, and for many young people across New York City, it starts on a local track,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, chief executive of New York Road Runners, in the release. “As the nonprofit 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.”
Tom Carleo, vice president of running for North America at New Balance, framed the project as part of the company’s broader mission. “Helping people discover running is core to who we are at New Balance,” he said. “Tracks like Star Spangled Playground are where these future athletes and leaders begin their path towards a lifelong healthy lifestyle.”
What the refurbishment includes
The existing track will be replaced with a Mondo synthetic running surface, the same type of surface used at elite competitions including the Olympic Games. The seating area will be rebuilt with new multi-tiered bleachers and benches, and the adult outdoor fitness area will be upgraded with new equipment and safety flooring.
NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura called the playground “an essential place for local students and Clinton Hill community members to play and work out,” adding that the project would deliver “a brand-new running track and new adult fitness area, along with new bleachers.” A ribbon-cutting is planned for when the track reopens, with specific dates to be announced.
For locals who use the track for interval sessions or weekend laps, that means a noticeable upgrade in surface quality. Mondo is the brand specified in the press release, and it’s the same vulcanized rubber surface that hosts world records at major championships.
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