Closing Bell: Bed Stuy Playground Built in a Day

Yesterday, a group of volunteers from Forest City Ratner Co., Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp., Shinda Management Corp., and residents of the Willoughby Court Apartments built a brand-new 2,500-square-foot playground in less than eight hours. More than 200 people gathered at 9:30 am at the Willoughby Court Apartments, at 721 Willoughby Avenue, to work on the playground. Volunteers mixed and poured more than 20,800 pounds of concrete and moved more than 40,500 square feet of safety surfacing all by hand. The structure was ready for a ribbon-cutting ceremony by 3 pm. This playground replaced previous equipment that was more than 30 years old and falling into disrepair. kaBOOM! designed the new play space; they’re a nonprofit that builds affordable playgrounds around the country. Click through to see the before and after pictures from yesterday.