By Gus Saltonstall
A popular Upper West Side playground is receiving $1 million in funding for renovations, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal announced this weekend.
The funding, which will come from a State and Municipal Facilities grant, will go toward the Little Engine Playground, located between 67th and 68th streets along Riverside Drive within Riverside Park South.
The money will be used to enhance accessibility and safety features on the playground, including replacing the existing safety surface, which is currently in poor condition, as well as adding new train-themed play areas, installing a new water fountain, and adding plants to the perimeter of the play space.
The exact renovation details have not been finalized, as the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will first present its plans to Upper West Side Community Board 7 for review and public input.
“I’m thrilled to announce this $1 million state grant for the beloved Little Engine Playground, which has delighted train-obsessed tykes on the Upper West Side for decades,” Hoylman-Sigal said at an event to announce the funding.
Merritt Birnbaum, the president and CEO of Riverside Park Conservancy, added that the funding “will not only bolster safety and accessibility but will also ensure that this cherished space retains its special character and remains a vibrant hub for families and children.”
The playground is open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. until October 31, when its closing time moves up to 6 p.m.
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So great ! Wish they could approve a budget and plan for a bathroom too. There is no bathroom on the upper level of the park . You have to go down to pier I to use one .
It would be useful to have one given the expansion planned for that stretch of the park.
Any plans for Diana Ross playground? That one has had so many problems that I stopped visiting.
I was desperately hoping this article was going to be about renovating Diana Ross and was disappointed to see it was Little Engine instead!
It rained really hard in one night in September 2021. Nearly 3 years ago. Dino Playground was roughly half destroyed.
Still hasn’t been repaired.
There is a funded project to renovate the Dinosaur Playground. It’s in the design phase now. I believe WSR has written about it.
I was thinking the same thing. There are older playgrounds that need help too.
Seriously ? with all the infrastructure problems in NYC and social issues affecting wide swaths of our populace and we’re spending a Million Dollars to renovate a playground ?!! that’s insane
Yes Corey, it’s called giving young children somewhere to play.
and in a rich neighborhood as well.
I don’t know what to shake my head at more. The fact that a relatively new playground needs a full renovation, or that it is going to cost $1 million.
Agreed. I have kids. I love playgrounds. I am all for maintaining them. But $1 million to fix up one playground, especially a relatively new one, seems excessive. Who is signing these construction contracts? I am clearly in the wrong line of work.
I’ve only been to the Ancient Playground across from the Met on the UES and their ‘safety surface,’ is sand. It’s safe for all age groups, along with a separate sand pit for toddlers. It’s my understanding that sand is much less expensive than other materials, so why not use sand and spread the improvements out to all of the playgrounds?
Return address on check should read “Taxpayers of NY & NYC.” It’s not Hoylman’s personal money.
Like others I am puzzled….?
Yes playgrounds are important but do not understand this project?
Repairs to a pretty new playground and which is in a very affluent area?
(Many playgrounds in the boroughs & low-income areas are not in good shape)
Also confused that Brad Hoylman would be interested in this as he mostly focuses on equity issues, for example getting funding for legal services for asylum seekers?
BTW the City’s executive budget for 2025 includes slashing the Parks Department budget by $55 million.