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Hunter College Campus Playground Reopens After $1M Renovation

By Shaye Weaver | November 18, 2015 8:22am
 The playground boasts a new synthetic turf, water fountain and a freshly resurfaced basketball court.
Hunter College Campus Schools' Playground Gets Facelift
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UPPER EAST SIDE — Students at Hunter College's Campus Schools can run and play again at their playground and basketball court, which reopened Tuesday after a three-month, $1 million renovation that included the installation of a new water fountain and resurfacing of the basketball court.

The playground officially reopened on Tuesday morning with a ribbon-cutting.

"Recess is such an important part of our school experience," Perry Dunn, a sixth-grader and student council member, said at the ceremony. "We've had lasting memories here and know that because of [the school's] efforts there will be many more to come."

The Hunter College Campus, which serves 1,536 students, includes an elementary and high school at 71 E. 94th St. 

The school's playground is used by both schools for recess and now features new synthetic turf, benches and a water fountain. Its basketball court was resurfaced and its nets, rims and backstops were replaced with new ones, according to school officials.

The project began in June this year and was funded by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, City Comptroller Scott Stringer and City Councilman Garodnick.

"You can have a great school, but you also need a great outdoor space," Brewer said during the ceremony. "It gives you vim and vigor and heart and spirit."

Garodnick said he played basketball there when he was in high school even though he wasn't a Hunter student.

"We took advantage of the fact that this space was open to the community," he said. "It was an important resource. We have a big park [at Central Park], but very few of these smaller ones."

Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab said Hunter High School and Hunter Elementary School have the most intellectually gifted students in the world.

"Now we have a space that's equal to their talent," she said.

The playground and courtyard are open to the public on weekends and holidays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 1 to Sept. 30, and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1 to April 30. On weekdays it is open between 5 and 6 p.m. in the fall and winter and from 5 to 8 p.m. in the spring and summer.