East River State Park Makeover
Since it opened back in the summer of 2007, East River State Park along the Williamsburg waterfront has been marked by its understated lack of amenities which, combined with a couple of artifacts from the site’s former industrial life, gave it a kind of rustic charm. But thanks to a private group, the park is…
Since it opened back in the summer of 2007, East River State Park along the Williamsburg waterfront has been marked by its understated lack of amenities which, combined with a couple of artifacts from the site’s former industrial life, gave it a kind of rustic charm. But thanks to a private group, the park is now set to get a playground. The “green” addition will feature all-wooden structures in addition to a play train that gives a nod to when the parkland was a railyard. “It’s not going to be the same cookie-cutter playground that’s usually found in state parks,” said Friends of East River State Park President Cathleen Breen. “It’s going to be a green, innovative playground.”
Train’s a Rollin’ for Formerly Closed Williamsburg Park [NY Daily News]
Photo by Timothy Caldwell
What’s wrong with rustic charm? Why do we feel the need to “structure” (and destroy) every open space? Aren’t there already enough playgrounds in this city? Its only a matter of time before someone or some “private group” decides the High Line needs one too. Yikes!
there was still an rusting old diesel engine on the Eastern District Terminal site when I first saw Williamsburg in 1996. Unless I’m disoriented.
“In addition to slides and swings, the space will feature all-wood structures, small hills for kids to roll down, a stream bed crisscrossed by bridges, and a “jumping flower” – a wooden structure with springs to bounce on – in the middle of a grove of trees.
And in a nod to the Kent Ave. park’s past as a railyard, there will be a two-car wooden locomotive for kids to climb in.”
There will be more 20 somethings using this than toddlers.
Too bad it’s probably going to be a fake train… a mini-train that moved around a track (like an oversized Brio train set) would be really awesome!
But I suppose there’s that whole crushing of extremities under the wheels business that probably isn’t acceptable for a kiddie’s playground. Oh well.
People in Williamsburg are so hip, even their playgrounds are totally different and above average.