Central Park's Belvedere Castle To Close For Renovations

CENTRAL PARK, NY — One of Central Park's most iconic attractions — the Belvedere Castle overlooking Turtle Pond — will be closed off to the public this fall for anticipated renovations, a spokesman for the Central Park Conservancy told Patch.

The Central Park Conservancy's upgrades to the castle will include a "comprehensive core and shell restoration" and the creation of an ADA accessible entrance to the castle from the east side of the structure, a spokesman told Patch. Currently the Belvedere Castle is not ADA accessible.

In addition to the cast upgrades, two playgrounds in Central Park will also be renovated this fall as part of the park's "Plan for Play" effort to upgrade 16 of the park's playgrounds. The two parks selected for renovations are the East 108th Street/Bernard Family Playground and the East 67th Street/Billy Johnson Playground, according to a spokesman.

All three renovation projects are currently being reviewed by local community board's for approval, a spokesman told Patch. The park renovations are reportedly connected to the $300 million fundraising effort launched by Central Park last summer.

The Central Park Conservancy has overseen upkeep of the park since 1980. The Conservancy receives 25 percent of its funding through the city, with the other 75 percent privately funded.

Check out specifics for each renovation project below:

East 108thStreet/Bernard Family Playground

• Reconfigure the swing area and replace existing swings to comply with current safety standards; this will require enlarging the elliptical space occupied by the swings, rotating it parallel to the perimeter to accommodate the six existing bucket swings and one adaptive (accessible) swing.
• Replace existing post-and-platform climber / composite play equipment with a new version that provides similar play experiences but is configured to comply with current clear zone requirements and designed to be less visually impactful from the Park and perimeter.
• Replace the existing sandbox, incorporating an accessible sand table and introducing a water source for additional play value.
• Replace the existing spray bollard with a user-active spray feature that conserves water.
• Repave playground for accessibility.
• Replace the existing four foot steel panel fence.
• Replace existing wood and concrete benches with new ones.
• Enhance landscape plantings between the playground and the perimeter wall.

East 67th Street/Billy Johnson Playground

• Establish a water feature at the amphitheater as originally intended; reactivate the runnel and flow of water to the stone bridge that was part of the original design concept; install spray jets throughout the amphitheater stage and area around the bridge, replacing the existing spray bollard with a user-active spray feature that conserves water.
• Introduce a net-climbing experience in the existing sand area.
• Create a second granite embankment slide to provide an accessible slide as well as accommodate the younger age group in the playground.
• Replace current bucket swings to comply with current safety standards, and introduce a tire swing for greater variety. Expand upon the existing rustic arbors at the entrances to the play area with a more extensive rustic pergola and benches that provide seating for caregivers while better integrating the swing area into the character of the larger design.
• Replace deteriorated timber edges of paths and roof of existing pergola.
• Regrade and repave the playground for accessibility. Regrade the path leading to the playground from Fifth Avenue for accessibility.
• Enhance and diversify plantings throughout the playground.

Belvedere Castle

• Cleaning and repointing exterior masonry
• Installing new drainage and waterproofing systems
• Restoring the wood pavilions on the main plaza and upper terraces
• Replacing existing pavements
• Replacing existing windows and doors
• Repairing and replacing interior bluestone floors and ceilings
• Modernizing mechanical systems and upgrading utility services
• Creation of an accessible path to the Belvedere from the east side.

Photo by Lucas via Flickr/Creative Commons