Numerous holes were visible last week in the safety surface in the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge Park Playground on Pier 1. On Wednesday, the Daily News watched workers place blue tape over nearly 100 small holes in the cushy blue surfacing. Small holes have also begun appearing in the safety surfacing in Union Square Park another new playground designed by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. Photo: © Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates
Brooklyn's pricey, red-hot new playground is already falling apart.
Less than a month after it opened, the $800,000 playground in the new Brooklyn Bridge Park at the foot of Old Fulton St. was abruptly shuttered Wednesday for repairs to its foam safety surfacing, according to the New York Daily News.
"It's depressing. We walked how many blocks to get here?" asked nanny Benny Gaviola, 47, who had to head home after she found the much-hyped playground locked. "It was so expensive to build, and now it's closed."
The move comes after the small playground - designed by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates - came under fire recently because of three steel climbing domes there that parents charge get dangerously hot in the sun.
On Wednesday, the Daily News watched workers place blue tape over nearly 100 small holes in the cushy blue surfacing, though no workers were in sight at lunchtime Thursday.
"It's crumbling. You can put your finger in there," said activist Geoffrey Croft, of New York City Park Advocates. "If it's falling apart after a month, that's outrageous."
According to NYC Park Advocates the Parks Department were forced to close Mullaly Park South Playground in the Bronx shortly after its opening last Spring when officials found that the safety surfacing had begun deteriorating, city sources told the watch-dog group. The Parks Department also removed a dangerous spinning dish after numerous children were hurt. Months later the city installed a similar spinning dish in Union Square Park. On March 18, 2010 workers were seen doing repairs after complaints from parents that children were falling off due to its excessive speed.
Yesterday the City Council held a public hearing on Intro No. 123, a bill which would mandate the creation of an advisory committee to study materials used for surface areas in playgrounds and on playing fields. This became an issue after a rash of news reports detailed numerous children were getting burned in playgrounds, and over health and safety concerns regarding artificial turf. The city is not currently mandated to perform independent testing of materials.
Showalter for News
Brooklyn Bridge Park playground was closed, with locks on the gates, Thursday, April, 15, 2010, for repairs to the rubber safety surface matting that covers the ground.
New York Daily News - April 16th 2010 - By Jeff Wilkins and Elilizabeth Hays
A Walk In The Park - April 8, 2010
There is already a law in place to protect the safety of the public. It is called State Professional Practice Law.
ReplyDeleteThe New York City Parks & Recreation is ignoring Professionals like licensed Landscape Architects and Architects and flouting Practice Law.
The travesty at Brooklyn Bridge Park is a direct result of this arrogance and ignorance.