Charlotte Fahn  Jul.18.2019
Lesley Walter in Hat
Students celebrating park

On July 13, excited neighbors, youth groups, “parkies,” and city and state officials attended a groundbreaking for the NYC Parks Department’s $10 million project to renovate Adventure and Sunken playgrounds in Manhattan’s Highbridge Park. Adventure Playground is where the paved path to the Manhattan end of the High Bridge begins; adjacent Sunken Playground provides ADA-compatible access to that path.

New York Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver presided at the event, consisting of speeches and symbolic shoveling; Borough President Gale Brewer was among the speakers. Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct were represented by Board members Lesley Walter and Charlotte Fahn. Sharing the spotlight was Lesley’s remarkable, one-of-a kind Aqueduct hat, greeted by calls of "look at that!"  (See photos.)

High Bridge fans will be happy to know improvements will include a public restroom (!) and lighting for the bridge access path, as well as a soccer field and other amenities (learn more at https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/8749). The two playgrounds are at Edgecombe Ave. between W. 163rd and 166th Streets.