Plans for J.J. Byrne Park in the Slope Unveiled

The schematic plan above details the next round of renovations the city is planning for J.J. Byrne Park in the Slope. (Click on the image to enlarge it.) The revamps are the result of a couple years' worth of community listening sessions on how to improve the park, and they will result in more distinct play areas for kids of different ages and new, adult-themed spaces like a seating area with cafe tables. Funding is in place for the overhaul, and the Parks Dept. is aiming to break ground next fall and finish the work in about a year. Meanwhile, you can check out the plans in the flesh in the gallery of the Old Stone House on weekends.
City Planning Facelift for Slope's J.J. Byrne Park [Brownstoner] GMAP
Extreme Makeover Planned for J.J. Byrne Park [Brownstoner]

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Comments

You mean the newly named Washington Park?

Posted by: rukiddingme at November 20, 2009 10:36 AM

Are they getting rid of the fountain? If so, that's beyond dumb.

Getting the playground areas into some shade would be an improvement.

Posted by: northsloperenter at November 20, 2009 10:55 AM

QUOTE: You mean the newly named Washington Park?

I've never heard this park referred to as anything other than "51's playground." Which makes sense, because it's next to MS51.

Posted by: Sparafucile at November 20, 2009 11:16 AM

I actually think the park is great as is, and the money could be better spent, that being said - it is truly remarkable how far JJ.Byrne/Washington park has come in the last 10yrs.

And you people complain about Bloomberg....crazy!

Posted by: fsrg at November 20, 2009 11:21 AM

FSRG: I agree. I moved to NYC in 2000 and my first apartment was on 5th Avenue and 6th street and I remember what this park was like then. In fact, 5th Avenue in general in 2000 really wasn't all that impressive.

Now, it's made a 180 and this park is pretty great as is, but I also like the look of the new plan.

Posted by: 11217 at November 20, 2009 11:30 AM

i am surprised i never saw this girl at the park.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/fiddle_stick_kid_Z9usJXsqsZuyWyyinUXCoJ

awesome talent.

Posted by: antidope at November 20, 2009 11:37 AM

Yeah -- I have to agree frsq. With the renovations of the west end of the park (which is grrrreat), I'm not sure what's wrong with the park now. It seems pretty much perfect. The playground toys seem like they're fun for the kiddies and there are various other amenities that seem adequate. Maybe some cheap renovations/fixes like a replacement bench or two.

The money could be spent somewhere else that doesn't have anything.... but Park Slope folks are noisy, squeaky wheels so they're getting the renos.

Posted by: tybur6 at November 20, 2009 11:46 AM

are they planning to close the park during this renovation? Because that would be a real bummer. We are there all the time!

Posted by: wishinone at November 20, 2009 1:55 PM

"adult themed spaces' LOL you mean like where men can get it on in the bushes?

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 20, 2009 2:17 PM

Sure the park could get by with some temporary fixes but in general it's in pretty bad shape. The "lawn" turns into a dirt patch every year by mid summer, there is standing water and mud all over the place and the wood play structures and benches are splinter factories. The new design is also meant to showcase the old stone house which is an important historic marker and has developed into a fantastic community resource. This area is dense with kids and they deserve a well designed and better maintained space.

Posted by: jimdisc at November 20, 2009 2:36 PM

"are they planning to close the park during this renovation? Because that would be a real bummer."

Agreed. I imagine they will close off the sections that are being worked on and leave the others open. The park is big enough to allow that and used heavily enough to justify the effort.

Posted by: northsloperenter at November 20, 2009 3:00 PM

It took 2 years to renovate the playground behind the Band-shell on 9th St. The condo across the street was built and occupied before the playground was completed.

Posted by: Grumpy at November 20, 2009 3:47 PM

jimdisc - come on!, your getting the upgrades so you dont need to spin. No one is saying the park is "perfect" but to call the park in "bad shape" is ridiculous (have you seen the parks in Gowanus - like the one on Douglass and 3rd?? - and every park in NYC was like those a couple of decades ago).
Washington Park has relatively new equipment,including a section for toddlers, it is well landscaped and has a HUGE turf field, handball, basketball, skateboarding and dog run....this is a NYC Park not an Equinox Gym, the fact that Grass doesnt grow in the front of the Old Stone House, hardly qualifies as "bad shape"...that being said, I think it is great how far the Park has come and will certainly enjoy the improvements - but the fact that you think the park is run down only illustrates my point about how great the city is doing.

Posted by: fsrg at November 20, 2009 4:47 PM

You jokers should have seen that park in the 70's, run down? More like run in, cop, run out. I had family that lived on 5th Ave and 4th St. We weren't allowed to go into the park. There was a 10 foot concrete wall on the 5th Ave. side. No Gate, no Stone Park Cafe,just bodegas and unlicensed pharmacists. Yes the city has come far but something was lost and some of the things that were lost were not bad.

Posted by: Grumpy at November 20, 2009 5:14 PM

rukiddingme: my understanding is that the area behind the school, with the dog park, basketball courts and skate park is considered Washington Park, but the playground and area in front of the Old Stone House is still JJ Byrne.

jimdisc: you're right that the grass square used to turn into a dirt patch every year - that is, until this year. The turf behind the house has been great for many reasons, and that is one of them - this has been the first year in all of our 6 years living a block away that the grass has lasted all summer/fall, because most people go to the turf for their sports activities.

My personal opinion, as someone who has been to this playground almost every day with my daughter for the past 6 years, is that the "flooring" (the black cushy stuff on the ground) desperately needs to be replaced, but the equipment is adequate as long as they maintain it. It's not the newest and flashiest, but kids have a ton of fun there. The biggest problem this park has is the school kids and residents who don't respect the park, leaving garbage, graffiti, and breaking the rules.

Posted by: greta at November 20, 2009 8:05 PM

Greta - I don't know about the area behind the school but the park formerly known as JJ Byrne is now known as Washington Park - for almost a year.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/no-offense-intended-j-j-byrne/

Posted by: rukiddingme at November 20, 2009 10:38 PM

rukiddingme: I think the confusion is that the playground was renamed JJ Byrne Playground, so that part of the park is still technically JJ Byrne.

Posted by: greta at November 20, 2009 10:59 PM