Waterside play area to get makeover

| 03 Oct 2017 | 12:58

Among officials at the park renovations’ groundbreaking Tuesday were, fourth from left, state Senator Brad Hoylman, to his left Hudson River Park Trust President Madelyn Wils, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, in a white jacket, and to her left, state Assembly Member Dick Gottfried. Photo: Hudson River Park

What the Hudson River Park’s Chelsea Waterside Play Area is projected to look like following its renovation. Rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

Elected officials broke symbolic ground Tuesday morning at Hudson River Park’s Chelsea Waterside Play Area ahead of a complete renovation and expansion of the Chelsea park.

The park, off 11th Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets, was built in 2000, and its rubbery surface, safer than concrete, experienced much wear and tear in the intervening years.

Many of the playground’s climbing structures were cordoned off because they had become unsafe. But it’s the park’s popular water features that were perhaps the most missed the last few years, when the drainage system essentially stopped functioning because of either damaged or blockage.

The Friends of Hudson River Park, a nonprofit, in partnership with Hudson River Park Trust and with the support of local elected officials, began a capital campaign two years ago to fund renovations and raised $3.4 million for a makeover designed by the firm Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates.