Rainbow Playground

NYC Parks’ $1.6 million renovation creates more space to play and includes an innovative rainbow arch play feature to engage kids and adults of all ages and abilities

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue yesterday joined New York City Councilmember Susan Zhuang and members of the community to celebrate a $1.6 million reconstruction of Rainbow Playground in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The refurbished playground includes a new spray shower, play equipment, tot tables, and a rainbow arch play feature for park patrons of all ages. The redesigned park features an expanded play area, a priority for the local community.

“When this playground was refurbished in the 1970s, the community gave it the name “Rainbow Playground,” the perfect name for a space where diverse communities come together and form something harmonious and beautiful,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Now, thanks to this full reconstruction of the playground, we are helping the park live up to its name, with new vibrant colors weaving through the play space and supporting kids’ imagination and exploration. Making our public spaces engaging and accessible is a top priority for us at Parks, and it is especially important in neighborhoods like Sunset Park, where greenspace is at a premium. I am so pleased that we could redesign this playground to give the community more space to play and connect, and I thank our partners in the City Council for their generous support.”

“As a mother of two young girls, I understand our parks are crucial to the development of our children and provide essential spaces for our families and community members to flourish,” said New York City Councilmember Susan Zhuang. “It is a joy to be here to celebrate the opening of Rainbow Playground. I look forward to seeing more families here enjoying all of the wonderful new amenities in this park.”

"After years of construction, I'm happy to see the completion of Rainbow Playground's renovation,” said New York City Councilmember Alexa Avilés. “Thank you to NYC Parks for working hard to finish this much needed upgrade. Having seen this project through to the finish line, it's great to see Rainbow's new and improved set up ready to go, just in time for the summer."

In addition to an expanded play space, the renovated park includes a colorful rainbow arch play structure, designed to engage and entertain children and adults of all ages. The colorful Yalp Sona arch, the first of its kind to be installed in a New York City park, features games and activities in a variety of languages, perfect for the diverse community of Sunset Park. Other new play features include a circuit of vibrant painted games snaking through the playground, a climber, a playhouse, and tot tables. The renovated space also includes several features to help park patrons relax and beat the heat in the warm summer months, such as new seating, a new spray shower, a drinking fountain, and new trees to provide shade.

The full renovation of the playground was made possible thanks to $1.6 million in funding from the City Council. Construction began in October 2022 and was completed on time in October 2023.