The Mariners’ Playground in Central Park at 84th street has closed until the fall as it undergoes reconstruction as part of Central Park’s plans to update all of the park’s 21 playgrounds.
Mariners, which has a nautical theme, caters to younger kids — 2 to 5 year olds generally — and has a lot of open space. The “Plan for Play” reconstruction plan outlined by the Central Park Conservancy doesn’t offer many specifics about the reconstruction, but it sounds like it will be getting more water elements (it has a spray feature already).
As the playground primarily serves preschoolers, its reconstruction will focus on providing a more engaging and diverse play experience for that age group, including increased opportunities for sensory and manipulative play. Because it is larger than the other playgrounds appealing to the same age group (such as Bernard, Friedman, and Tots playgrounds), it offers the opportunity to create larger or expanded play features and to incorporate water as a central design element. Other objectives include additional seating and amenities to better accommodate social activity.
Photo by Rachel.
Not sure why they can’t do these improvements during the winter months as the playgrounds are needed more during the summer months when kids are outside.
Because most cement, masonry and paving work cannot be undertaken in cold weather. Many building materials do not behave properly at temperatures below 40-45 degrees. The schedule,as posted, contemplates a 7 month project cycle. It needs to start now to be complete before the return of cold weather.
Stop it. Its comments like these that ruin this site.
I demand a comments section that is full of misinformation, name calling, and veiled racism.
Informative comments like this one do not belong here.
I’m sorry.
I’ll try to be more cynical going forward.
Throwing around the word “racism” in the manner done here is itself a form of name-calling. “Racist”, always a problematic word, now means little more than “anything that transgresses the entrenched, doctrinaire orthodoxy on race”. (Similar to what George Orwell wrote in his 1946 essay Politics and the English Language about the word fascism: “has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies “something not desirable.”” )
Imagine if words such as “racist” and “racism” were to be completely banned (even if only temporarily) from usage in the comments. Then people would have to actually articulate substantive objections and arguments, explaining and demonstrating just what it was that they found unacceptable or incorrect about a given statement, idea, position, opinion or entity. How much easier it is, though, to simply brand something or someone as heretical, to be demonized and summarily dismissed, a priori.
Good point. It is well known that progressives use accusations of racism to silence dissent rather than debate ideas and public policies on their merits. Unfortunately, this tactic is often effective (which is why they keep using it).
This guy must be great at parties….hahahaha….:)
Seriously though, lighten up Francis
Maybe because the ground is frozen?
A great opportunity for families to explore beautiful Riverside Park, this summer.
Riverside Park certainly has much to offer and an undeniable charm all its own. The Henry Hudson Parkway running alongside the park, however, can really detract from the experience.
I wonder, though: which park, Riverside or Central, actually has cleaner air? Might the advantage of the proximity to the river of Riverside actually surpass, in this regard, the advantage of the far greater expanse of greenery that Central has?
There are large metal stakes and small red flags in the ground all around the Mariners’ Playground and Summit Rock. Are they expanding the perimeter of this playground? That would be a shame, as that little area of the park is lovely as is. Would appreciate any further info you can find.
One of our favorites – especially because you can keep your eye on your kid(s) anywhere in the playground. I hope they keep that feature. It’s missing in several playgrounds like the one at 100th street where there is a huge middle structure that blocks one side from the other.
(1) Does anyone know the purpose of those giant metal poles in the immediate surrounding area? Are they going to close off more than just the playground? They’ve already set up a separate gravelly area for equipment…
(2) I totally agree w/ the above comment. Summer = peak usage.
Probably they do these projects in warmer weather for the same reasons roads are restored during warmer weather.
It is a great playground. Hopefully they will address the rat problem at the playground. Many times I had to leave because the rats were running about.
When will someone finally take a look at Dinosaur Park on 97th /Riverside . It’s in dire need of some upgrades. Gets more crowded every year as more and more families move into the neighborhood.
You should try to get the representative for that area to include that in the list of items to be voted on in participatory budgeting – this cycle just closed but I am pretty sure that is within the realm of things that can be suggested.
The annual benefit for Riverside Park is coming up – and the conservancy for that park are always gracious and grateful for contributions. I focus park donations there because, as noted above, Riverside has much less money to draw upon than Central.
Re: “The annual benefit for Riverside Park is coming up….”
Benefit? The kind where wealthy people gather, enjoy each other’s company, and DONATE to a worthwhile cause like Riverside Park?
But, but, but…aren’t we supposed to HATE wealthy people and dream of pitchfork-and-torch-waving mobs driving them away to New Jersey, just because they’re much more wealthy than most of us?
Aren’t we supposed to accuse the wealthy of making this city too expensive for the un-wealthy?
Aren’t we supposed to celebrate poverty and denigrate wealth?
Well, SOME may feel that way, but MOST understand that without charitable contributions from the wealthy our city’s wonderful museums, libraries, parks, etc. would wither and die…because the average person’s $25 donation ain’t gonna do much.
Think about that the next time the New Yawk Times or some other librul advocate starts to bemoan the presence of wealth in Gotham.
You make a valid point. I wonder, though, is there any point at which you would find the pricing-out of all but the most wealthy to be a problem?
By the way, what is it with all the contempt and disdain for “YUPpies”? What, exactly, is wrong with Young Urban Professionals?
“the average person’s $25 donation ain’t gonna do much.”
No but enough small donations can add-up to a substantial sum. Imagine if many times the current number of people who make small donations were to do so.
Also, in light of comments of yours such as this one, your use of “librul” and the like seems ironic.
Aka The Warriors playground where the movie was filmed in 1979. Cyrus the leader of the gangs of New York was shot in the center of the sprinklers which was supposed to be in The Bronx. It was also the RTW playground, a very famous and very early graffiti crew who went on to become very successful artists in the art world.
Mark: Is your linking your name to the URL for this site supposed to mark you as a member of the staff?
The many posts I have seen with WSR or Yahoo or AOL in the “Website” field suggests to me that many people don’t realize that it is entirely optional, intended for those who have a personal web site that they wish to identify/publicize. One who does not, I’m sure the admins would agree, should best simply leave the field blank.
Also, I would suggest that it be stated, as seems fairly standard now, that while a valid email address is required (as a spam-deterring measure, I believe), it will not be displayed.
Sorry to derail the thread somewhat with these meta matters but I have wondered about them for some time and addressing them would seem in the interest of both the site users as well as admins.
The Central Park Conservancy has millions upon millions of dollars at its disposal to spend on these upgrades. Riverside Park, not so much. That’s why those playgrounds so shabby by comparison.