By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
LOWER EAST SIDE — The children of Chinatown and the Lower East Side will have a new, state-of-the-art playground to enjoy this summer that is set to open in the coming weeks.
The Hester Street Playground — which lies at the foot of Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Hester Street between Chrystie and Forsyth streets — recently underwent a $5 million renovation to revitalize the decaying 1980s-era recreation space.
The Parks Department touts the new playground as an achievement in community collaboration, as it worked with multiple neighborhood organizations to solicit design ideas from the surrounding community.
The result of the effort is a modern and multifaceted space featuring traditional playground equipment, abundant seating and tables, and a series of spray showers for visitors to splash through on a hot summer day.
Other features include a sand pit, slides, tire swings, an assortment of mixed plantings around the playground, and new public restrooms located inside an adjacent building, according to the Parks Department.
Funding for the playground was provided primarily through a $4.4 million allocation from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, as well as $250,000 each from former Councilman Alan Gerson and the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.
The Parks Department will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the playground on Thurs., June 17.
