Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Newtown Shooting Victims To Be Memorialized With Playgrounds In Hurricane Sandy Towns
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School two months ago was so unspeakably tragic, it's almost impossible to envision a fitting way to memorialize and honor the lives of all 26 children and teachers lost. But a New Jersey firefighters' union has come up with a project that will do just that, and benefit children in local communities, too; they will build 26 playgrounds in towns that have been hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy, each one named and themed after one of the victims.
The $2.1 million project is called The Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play, and it's spearheaded by NJ's Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association; they'll be building 10 playgrounds in New York and New Jersey—including in Atlantic City and Staten Island—each, and 6 in Connecticut. The first playground will be built in Sea Bright in NJ; it will be named after slain special education teacher Ann Marie Murphy, and residents hope it will have a rebuilding effect after the town suffered significant damage in October's storm. "The residents of Sea Bright lost so much from Superstorm Sandy that something like a new playground, besides providing a safe place for our children to play, is also a symbol of hope and recovery," Mayor Dina Long told reporters. "It has a far greater impact than just a nice playground."
The Sea Bright park might feature a dog run in the park to memorialize Murphy's love for them, and the other playgrounds will include tokens reflecting the personalities of their namesakes. Jack Pinto, whose love for the NY Giants was so great he was buried in a Victor Cruz jersey, will get a football-themed playground, Catherine Hubbard will get a Staten Island playground by the sea, and Noah Posner's playground will be in Rockaway, near his grandfather's house. "We cannot imagine a more fitting tribute for Noah than a playground designed to offer children years of play and interaction with others in their community," Noah's parents, Lenny and Veronique Pozner, wrote. Groundbreaking begins on the first playground on March 1st; the project is also collecting donations on its website.
Tagged
anne-marie murphy
catherine hubbard
connecticut
hurricane sandy
jack pinto
new jersey
new york
newtown
noah posner
queens
rockaway
staten island
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC’s whiplash weather continues into weekend with heavy winds, chilly temps, NWS says
Friday expect scattered showers and thunder, cooler temperatures Saturday, and a sunny Sunday.
By
Monica Melton
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 10:22 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE
By
Arya Sundaram
NYC ambulance response times have grown 41% as life-threatening calls rise
By
Ben Feuerherd
Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws
By
Phil Corso
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .