Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground is a play area located in New York City's Central Park, inside the park at East 85st Street and Central Park West, and on the site of Seneca Village.
Description edit
The playground is located near the middle of the park. It is mainly comprised of a large open area of sand. Additionally, it has swings, a mushroom-style water feature, a defunct second water area, and two play structures including slides, bridges, and platforms.[1]
Many elements of this playground have been removed or stopped functioning.[2] A bridge and a wooden play structure are among the removed elements, and the aforementioned second water area contained a water table with a spout and two small pipes set into the ground which sprayed water.
The playground is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy.
History edit
Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground was built in 1935 and 1936 as one of the park's perimeter playgrounds.[3] It was then renovated by the Central Park Conservancy in 1975.[4] This renovation included replacing the previous equipment with equipment from the company TimberForm. Tire swings, tree houses, a pyramid with slides, and climbing equipment was added, as well as the currently existing large water area.
By 1992, the timber equipment needed to be replaced, and the Conservancy renovated the playground once more, adding a second water area, a bridge with a slide, treehouses, sandboxes, and other play equipment.[3] The existing trees and large water area were kept.[2]
After over 30 years, the equipment has once again deteriorated and much of it has been removed.[5] The Central Park Conservancy plans to renovate the playground again in the summer of 2024 and rename it to West 85th Street Playground.[6] This renovation will move the playground off of known footprints of houses in Seneca Village, replace the existing play equipment, update the water feature, integrate the playground better into the park, improve accessibility, increase the play value, and add an adjacent picnic area.
References edit
- ^ "Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground". Central Park Conservancy. Central Park Conservancy. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ a b "The Reconstruction of West 85th Street Playground" (PDF). NYC. Central Park Conservancy. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Spector Playground". Plan For Play. Central Park Conservancy. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ Williams, Lena (19 November 1976). "Children Romp at Dedication Of a Playground in Central Park". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Restoration of West 85th Street Playground". Central Park Conservancy. Central Park Conservancy.
- ^ "MCB7 Full Board Meeting | December 5, 2023". YouTube. Manhattan CBseven. Retrieved 1 March 2024.