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Officials Cut the Ribbon at Staten Island's Newest Playground

By Nicholas Rizzi | April 9, 2013 4:03pm

ANNADALE — The city unveiled their newest playground for younger children on Tuesday at Blue Heron Park in Annadale.

Staten Island Borough Commissioner for the Parks Department  Adena Long joined Borough President James Molinaro and Assemblyman Joe Borelli to cut the ribbon on the newest tot lot, a recreational space for small children, at Blue Heron Park.

The $500,000 playground features play equipment that integrates with the natural elements already found in the park, Long said.

“The design enhances the nature center programs and the spaces that we already have,” she said.

The Blue Heron Park playground was the fifth and final installment of Molinaro’s borough-wide initiative to build tot lots, starting in 2011.

“We wanted to put these tot lots in locations that people could walk from their homes,” he said at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the playground. “I’m just glad we were able to do it.”

Through Molinaro’s initiative, which spent a total of $2.5 million, the city built tot lots previously at Silver Lake Park, Drumgoole Road West and in New Dorp.

Jack Baird, president of Friends of Blue Heron Park, said that he and his wife, Lois, worked since the 70s to protect the land net door to their house from developers.

Since they starter their organization, Blue Heron Park grew from 26-acres to 250-acres, and Baird said seeing the playground opened will serve as a great reminder of what him and his organization has accomplished.

“It feels like we got a nice legacy,” Baird said. “It’s going to be here for a long time, and we’re very proud of it.”