$5.6M Renovations At 2 Harlem Parks Celebrated By City

HARLEM, NY — City officials took to the swingsets this week to celebrate multimillion-dollar renovations that wrapped up this spring at two Harlem playgrounds.

The projects consisted of $3.3 million revamp of Morningside Park's playground and basketball courts, as well as a $2.3 million renovation at Thomas Jefferson Playground in East Harlem.

Patch reported on the renovations last month, which both came after years of complaints by neighbors about deteriorating conditions at both facilities.

Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver celebrated the repairs Wednesday at Morningside Park, joined by local officials and residents, who cut a ceremonial ribbon and took a ride in the new swingset.

“As Commissioner I’ve prioritized working to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to quality parks, and it’s outstanding to see these underused spaces transformed into community assets," said Silver, who is resigning later this year, in a statement.

The work at Morningside Park rebuilt the middle playground and basketball courts at West 118th Street. The playground has new play equipment, an adult fitness area, an intermediate basketball court with new bleachers, and new game tables, seating, lighting, plantings and pavements.

The work was funded through the offices of Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilmembers Mark Levine and Bill Perkins, and then-Councilmember Inez Dickens.

The renovations at Thomas Jefferson, which borders the FDR Drive between East 111th and 114th streets, include more accessible play equipment, a revamped barbecue area and rebuilt spray shower, and new benches, fencing, plantings and pavements.

Work was paid for by City Councilmember Diana Ayala and former Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Repairs at Thomas Jefferson were named as a top priority by Community Board 11 in early 2019, while the renovation of Morningside was backed in 2018 by Community Board 9.

The Morningside renovations achieve a "decades long goal" set in a 2001 master plan to reintegrate the basketball courts into the fabric of the park, according to Brad Taylor, President of Friends of Morningside Park.

Previous coverage: 2 Harlem Playgrounds Reopen After Yearslong Renovations