WASHINGTON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL P.S. 28 RECEIVES NEW FUNDING FOR SOCCER FIELD TRANSFORMATION

NEW YORK, NY - Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, joined P.S. 28 administrators to announce the allocation of $1 Million in combined federal and local funding for a soccer field. This initiative will convert an unused handball court into a vibrant soccer field, providing recreational space for local schools and fostering community engagement.

The renovations bring new, safe opportunities for students to engage in athletic activities, prep them for future athletic endeavors, increase recreation for student mental and physical health, and improves academic outcomes.

"The community spoke, and we listened. I was proud to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to create a soccer field at P.S. 28 - The Wright Brothers School located in my district, and a space that will provide recreational opportunities for four schools in the area, while ensuring a safe and healthy place for sports engagement and outdoor activities for young people in our community," said Rep. Espaillat. "I am deeply appreciative to New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa for her commitment to match this funding to help bring this project to fruition this year for youth throughout our district. Together, we are working to ensure stronger and more vibrant spaces for youth and their families."

"Our students deserve safe spaces to play and explore their athletic interests, enhancing their educational experience. The students and their administrators learned about the civic engagement process in their efforts by reaching out to our offices and learning about how government budgets function. I'm proud to collaborate with Congressmember Espaillat to use federal and city funding for a new future for P.S. 28," said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.

"We are elated that Congressman Espaillat and Councilmember De La Rosa support our "Hyper Local Activism" project. They are helping PS 28 students, and all students, realize that we can be agents of change in our neighborhoods. At the same time, they are acknowledging the role full-time school librarians have in supporting civic engagement in our communities," said Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Library Media Specialist, P.S. 28 The Wright Brothers School.

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government's vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at [email protected]