Gray Playground Gene Gray Playground, at Cross Bay Boulevard and East 9th Road, is named for Eugene Gray (1927–1973), a community activist who supported the construction of the island's first adventure playground prior to his death. In 1987, the Broad Channel Civic Association and Queens Community Board 14 successfully petitioned to rename the playground after Gray. The playground, which cost $457,688, opened on November 12, 1987, to designs by Richard Dattner. The wooden play structures in the playground was themed to a nautical fortress, with a bridge designed to look like a sailing ship. There is also a 75-year-old willow tree, nine red maple trees, and ninety burning bushes surrounding the playground. References External links Broad Channel Historical Society Forgotten New York: Broad Channel Islands of New York City Neighborhoods in Queens, New York Irish-American neighborhoods Neighborhoods in Rockaway, Queens Islands of Queens, New York Populated coastal places in New York (state)