Clarification: Tuesday, September 16 at 3:15 p.m.: In our story, we referred to Margaret Bracken as the Chief of Design & Construction for the Riverside Park Conservancy, while this is true, she is also the Landscape Architect for the New York City Parks Department, and was presenting at the Community Board 7 meeting about the River Run Playground redesign in her capacity as the latter role.
The Riverside Park Conservancy is not involved in this playground’s redesign project.
Original Story
By Gus Saltonstall
River Run Playground’s river is in danger of running dry.
The popular playground in Riverside Park near West 82nd Street will soon undergo a $7 million redesign, but not everyone is happy about the current renovation plan presented by the New York City Parks Department.
In recent weeks, signs have appeared at the playground reading “The river at River Run Playground, which flows from the fountain, is the heart of the playground. It’s why it is called ‘River Run’ and loved by all kids. This is outrageous and destroys the playground’s charm and character.”
Over the past year, the Parks Department had been collecting community input for the redesign of the playground, and at the end of August, the department presented its plan for the first time to Upper West Side Community Board 7’s Parks & Environment Committee.
Among the many proposed changes is one to remove the river element of the playground and replace it with a different shower-like feature that sprays out water.
“As a parent whose child visits this playground almost daily, I see no reason for any renovation, much less destroying its best feature—the river,” David, who did not want to share his last name, wrote in an email to West Side Rag. “The community will be outraged if this is quickly and quietly approved.”
In its current form, the river, which the Parks Department refers to as a runnel, runs through the majority of the playground from a spray fountain on one side to a sandbox on the other.
The Parks Department has labeled the runnel as in “poor condition” and proposes replacing it with a different water feature.
“Regarding the runnel, we know that is a really popular feature and we have sort of anticipated some concern about removing it,” Margaret Bracken, the Landscape Architect for the New York City Parks Department and the Chief of Design & Construction for the Riverside Park Conservancy, told CB7 committee members at the end of the August meeting. “We knew the runnel was very popular and we really didn’t want to lose it altogether, so Terri [the project’s design partner] and I have done, I think a really good job incorporating a somewhat shorter” river-like feature in the proposed design.
Bracken’s comments were in response to Community Board 7 member Alex Bell, who had raised concern over the river’s removal.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of parents who are like, ‘What, it’s called River Run and the river is gone’?” Bell said. “Personally, I think you had to balance tradeoffs and you probably made a good choice. I could see that in making people not happy.”
West Side Rag reached out to the Parks Department for further comment, and a spokesperson emphasized that the new design had not been finalized.
“Community input is an important part of our process for parks projects,” the Parks Department spokesperson wrote in an email. “We understand there have been a lot of questions recently about our draft design for River Run Playground, and we look forward to returning to the Community Board soon to discuss this project further.”
The project is still in the design phase, and the Parks Department will return to Community Board 7 on October 20 for a another meeting with the board’s Parks & Environment Committee.
Upper West Side Councilmember Gale Brewer, who allocated the $7 million for the River Run Playground renovation, also attended the late August CB7 meeting where the design was discussed, and spoke to West Side Rag about the importance of making sure there was another meeting that more residents and parents could attend.
“We put the presented design for the new playground in our newsletter and we got hundreds of complaints, which we sent over to Community Board 7 and they managed to come up with a new date to have a new, complete re-run of the meeting,” Brewer told the Rag over the phone. “There was nobody at the meeting in August. Maybe there was a parent there, I don’t think there was. When we put it into the newsletter, we got hundreds of complaints at least, so as a result, Parks Department is revising their design and returning to CB7 in October.”
In terms of the project’s timeline, the design phase will last six to nine months, followed by a year-long bid process from potential construction firms. Construction is then projected to begin in 2027, during which time the playground would be closed for a year.
You can check out the Parks Department’s most recent redesign plan for the River Run Playground — HERE.
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Absolutely terrible idea. Save River Run!
How can people push against this progress. The ” River” portion of the park is a joke. Move forward and upgrade
You need to use your imagination a bit but you’re right that the water does look dirty. I say keep the River Run
The River portion is many young children’s favorite portion. Are you a parent? Have you been there? Have you seen how much kids play in it?!? The only joke is your ice cold take
For real. That’s hardly a river. It just looks like a long puddle for kids to slip in that takes up valuable space. And based on that pic, the water doesn’t look particularly clean…
Do you go? You have never been. Crazy criticism.
It’s not crazy to comment on something that can be clearly seen. Crazy that you think it is
My kids love it. Which part is a joke?
We don’t need the river. Let it dry up.
guessing you don’t have small kids and also oppose having to pay taxes to fund public schools. Literally tens of thousands of families have enjoyed that unique water feature, which the little ones adore
Little ones also enjoy playing in filth. Doesn’t mean they should. And they may adore the improvements made even more.
It’s not filth! It’s clear and fresh water flowing through the river. Clearly you’ve never been there. Don’t be ignorant.
I tore my bathing suit wide open there as a child, was traumatic for years lol
NYC government fails at just about everything and yet pays beyond top dollar as well.
“We knew the runnel was very popular and we really didn’t want to lose it… ‘ so we’re going to remove it
Ama8
This feature makes the park very unique and clearly has lasted decades without any meaningful maintenance. Kids especially toddlers love walking up and down the “river” and having small toys float down.
It would help if they just explained WHY it’s so hard to repair it. For $7M it’s hard to imagine it would be so difficult.
Kids love the long River Run. They should keep it. Just get rid of the sand that clogs it.
Parks is a joke. Riverside is CAVING IN. There are sinkholes EVERYWHERE.
Put the money towards infrastructure for God’s sake
Why is it being redone? I love its worn out look, tree roots, old benches (give them a coat of paint) . Adds character. Not everything has to be modern.
It’s a perfectly good park. It’s still in good condition. Just powerwash the “river” portion Want to make real progress? How about you put money into a playground that actually needs the upgrades. I can think of 4 different playgrounds in this area alone that could use it more.
This is brain dead delegation of resources.
Exactly, how long will Dino be left in it’s current condition
This feels like a project that is only justifying someone’s job. Not every renovation is an improvement and not every change is necessary. Somethings should just be left alone.
The “river” is gross and a cesspool. The new design is a thousand times better.
My children have extreme sensory sensitivities and will not go in typical spray park water features. They both enjoy playing in the water with this river structure and it’s so hard to find this feature. We are also friends with a child who is a wheelchair user and the river is an accessible feature for him whereas most spray areas are not. Removing the river will significantly limit the accessibility of the water features for children with various physical and developmental disabilities.
Good to know. We must SAVE IT!!!
⸻
No one liked the Eiffel Tower at first. Who’s to say the new water feature won’t turn out to be even better? The River Run Playground replaced an old playground, giving families a refreshed space to enjoy. Your children loved RR, and now they have the chance to explore an exciting new play areA.
People getting worked up over a completely inconsequential thing.
I guess you’re a parent that has never been there. Or perhaps you just don’t live nearby so who cares right? It doesn’t affect you, so therefore it must be inconsequential
How about we rename it to the Rat Run Playground? That way the name will remain accurate.
One need only look at the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in London for inspiration!
Ugh. This is one part of the park I knew well for many years. Not kid involved. This is not really a creative design. A spray fountain?!? Whoop-de do! We had that in the backyard when I was a kid– a ring sprinkler at the end of the garden hose . Cost, maybe 5 bucks. And, this silly backward-looking proposal carries a price tag of $7m. Back to the drawing board, folks, and to your calculators and your spreadsheets. Not with my dollars.
Let’s not ignore the overall design of the playground as well. Is it really the best we can do in 2025?
Lovely touch in the render putting the nanny staring at the phone lol
I’m not woke by any means- but that’s racist. Assuming the black woman is a nanny and not a parent of a child who might play in the park. Yes- there are black people living in the area (I am not one of them- but we do have diversity- both in private and public housing stock in this area)
Yes, that is off-base. There is a small child there who could be her child.
That said, so many nannys, care-givers and obvious parents (and dog owners) can’t seem to spend any time outdoors without the face-in-the-phone syndrome. It’s extremely anti-social toward their companion. I remember when ppl actually talked to dogs, kids, children and elderly .
Do people even look around and think un-programmed thoughts anymore?
Artist Gerry Lynas, who lives just two blocks away from here, was the designer and co-builder of this playground’s major features, including the river and the sandbox. Yet there is not even a mention of his name in this article.
Was he ever contacted and given a chance to participate in the planning of any redesign or restoration?
Lynas was not involved with the overall design of the playground, only the sculpted sand pit, but he is in favor of saving the river. All of his children played in that playground and loved the river. You can see how much children love it if you watch his recent documentary here: https://ibk.nyc/lynas/
My apologies for the misstatement.
The river is the defining feature that most kids love. Enhance (and clean) it, dont kill it.
The river is charming, but they should keep it cleaner. Treat it like a fountain and be more attentive to removing algae, which can actually pose a slipping hazard in this case.
Does anyone else have a problem with our neighborhood receiving $7 million for a playground renovation that is not supported by a large portion of the community when there is a shuttered playground in dire need of advocacy and funds in Upper Manhattan? Understandably, different entities control the two parks, but it seems sad that we are bickering over a facelift when our neighbors to the north don’t even have access to their playground.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/nyregion/gw-bridge-park-dolphin-park.html
The park is due for a good dose of TLC. There are tree roots that are uplifting the cement- it is a tripping hazard and the resulting litigation that can happen is not cheap. The current structure of the river and the sand pit at the end is problematic from a plumbing/drainage POV. They should move the sand if not get rid of it- it doesn’t work anywhere these days. People are criticizing the new play structure- but these older structures get very hot to touch and are not the most modern in terms of safety- they should be replace periodically- so I’m not sure why people would fight this aspect. But hey- fight any change, nothing gets done for another 5-10 years, more tree roots, potential failures of plumbing, problems with the playground equipment- then nobody will be able to use it. The Upper West Side Way!
The extremely negative, hateful comments are truly scary. Some people seem to derive extreme joy out of being nasty and getting others worked up.
I have spent countless hours in River Run as I live nearby. My kids have gotten wet in the “river” when I did not want them to be wet. My kids have tripped and scraped themselves when running in the river. But I love that river. It adds so much character to the park. My kids have largely aged out so I am not there much anymore.
I find it hard to believe that others would be opposed to keeping it, whether by just by leaving it alone or fixing it up. What has the river done to you? Or are you just nasty curmudgeons?
I think the park could use a fresh coat of paint and a few touch-ups and the money would be a lot better used elsewhere. Fix Dinosaur playground. Use the money to figure out how to get rid of the rats in the city’s parks. Use it to clean up other parts of RIverside Park.
Watched the film made by the sculptor enclosed in the article. How creatively made with love. I’ve walked past the playground but never went inside or was aware of this wonderful sandbox. Will walk over today to check it out. Thanks for adding the film of how it was constructed.
Upper Riverside Park is in need of major renovations and upkeep. All the trails and roads need to be repaved and the trees and plants need care.
What was that folk song: “Don’t let the lights go out.” I don’t even know what that was about (just woke up this morning and read this) but that is the way I feel about this article. If the kids and families want it, please SAVE IT!!!
Fint be fooled by parks felt! The shower like element they put in at the Dinossur playground in RSP & 97th is TRRRIBLE! Zero water pressure. It’s pretty but not at all fun it functional, why is why you never see kids in there. Years ago it was filled – some of my fave memories are Plato g in there, even tho it used to have a floor that hurt young feet.
Huge waste of money. If anything, replace just the sandboxes because unfortunately they are also home to rats. Those millions of dollars would be much better spent allocated to after school activities programs. $7 million to replace the river is senseless. And by the way, I would love for them to show me why it’s “in bad shape”.
I used to manage the School and Family programs in Riverside Park for the Riverside Park Conservancy. The River Run playground was a terrific teaching resource.. We would discuss the Hudson River, its source, the flow, where the River ‘terminated, why it was an estuary etc. Then we would walk down to the River to discuss the same. (We were surprised at how many children had never seen the River, thought is was an ocean , wondered where the wales were and feared sharks!
For family programs we explored the nature, source and flexibility of sand, the artist who designed the sand “pit” gave a demonstration and then the kids modeled their own sand art sculptures.
Such a terrific neighborhood resource. Please update but don’t destroy.
Yes, this is a good point — the river is meant to replicate the Hudson and is a cute geography lesson.
Putting aside the fact that this proposed change seemingly wastes another 7 million in tax payer dollars for a playground that at best, needs some minor maintenance, I am concerned about the effects on the community from the construction. We are already in a “rat crisis” here on the UWS in these parks and playgrounds — imagine what will happen to the rat population when we start jackhammering and bulldozing that area? The rats will truly be running wild out of their burrows and it will be a NIGHTMARE. Please express your opposition to this absolute waste of resources by emailing: MhBoroCapital@parks.nyc.gov and district6@council.nyc.gov to object!
It should be noted that this redesign also removes the very popular seesaws, the climbing structure, two slides and three swingsets! It is a downgrade in every possible way. The main structure will also have far less square footage to run around on top and underneath as the kids absolutely love doing right now. I think the people in love with this design are consultants and people who have never been to River Run and those without kids.
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