Playgrounds have been closed since April 1st, but are now allowed to reopen as the City moves into Phase 2. Image Credit: CityLand

Over 1000 playgrounds will be reopened and cleaned, but equipment will not be sanitized. On June 18, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that playgrounds would be reopened as part of Phase 2, which began Monday, June 22nd. While NYC parks generally remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many facilities within parks were closed and restrictions were placed to limit the activity allowed in parks in an effort to stop overcrowding and the spread of COVID-19. On April 1, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced the closure of all NYC playgrounds, as the density within them was too high. For CityLand’s prior coverage of park closings, click here. (more…)

Broken Spiral Slide. Image credit: City of New York Office of the Comptroller.

549 NYCHA-owned playgrounds have hazardous conditions and lack of repair and maintenance records. On April 4, 2018, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released an audit of New York City Housing Authority playgrounds’ conditions and maintenance. NYCHA is responsible for the maintenance of each development’s playgrounds. Results from playground inspections are required to be entered into NYCHA’s electronic system for tracking maintenance and physical repair work. However, the Comptroller’s audit shows that NYCHA failed to consistently maintain playgrounds. (more…)

Image credit: New York City Council.

On May 5, 2022, the City Council voted to pass Int. 173-A, a bill aimed to improve parks and playgrounds through better standards for quality inspections and provide more transparency about what playgrounds and parks require improvements. The bill was sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, who is the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee.   (more…)

Mayor Eric Adams and Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announce over 100 parks improvement projects set to start construction this spring. Image Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office.

On March 13, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced that 104 park projects that were previously paused due to the pandemic will break ground this spring. The shift marks a 142 percent increase in parks construction projects over 2021.

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Mayor de Blasio speaks at the ribbon cutting for the final section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Image Credit: Mayor’s Office.

The addition completes the park’s original design. On December 9, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio, elected officials and community leaders joined together to cut the ribbon on the final section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The section, located underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, will be named Emily Warren Roebling Plaza after Emily Warren Roebling, whose work helped ensure the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. The section connects the already completed DUMBO section and southern piers of the park. (more…)