Thorpe Family Playground

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Thorpe Family Playground Is The Park Of The Month

Malcolm Pinckney

Ring in the New Year at Thorpe Family Playground, the Parks Department’s pick for January’s Park of the Month. Located at the northwest corner of Park Avenue and East 183rd Street in the Bronx, this neighborhood gem embodies the spirit of the renewal of public spaces.

This state-of-the-art playground was created on land donated to the Parks Department by the Thorpe Family Residence, a non-profit organization and residence for homeless mothers and children transitioning to permanent housing. Thorpe Family Residence, which is adjacent to the property, worked with the City and elected officials to secure funding to build the playground.

Formerly an empty lot, the property now boasts a beautiful new park with bright and colorful play equipment, swings for young children, a spider climber, a small boulder for rock climbing, as well as safety surfacing, lighting, and security fencing. The park also includes a tranquil seating area and a popular water play area surrounded by floral gardens with large shade trees, providing respite for community members during the warm summer months.

City officials and community members celebrated the momentous opening of this highly anticipated new playground on May 1, 2007, when Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined District Manager of Community Board #6 Ivine Galarza, Executive Director of Thorpe Family Residence Sister Barbara Lenninger, and families from the Thorpe Family Residence to cut the ribbon.

Park of the Month introduces some of our greatest parks and green spaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors. For additional information, please visit our website at www.nyc.gov/parks.

JOIN THE GREENAPPLE CORPS DOWN IN THE GULF COAST!
It has been two and a half years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast and the City of New Orleans is still in an enormous amount of need.
Want to help? Join the GreenApple Corps for our third service relief trip to New Orleans, April 21-25, 2008. We will volunteer with City Park New Orleans to help improve the City’s largest park and Habitat for Humanity to assist in the construction of affordable housing for musicians and others.
There will be a presentation regarding the trip on Wednesday January 30 from
5 – 6 p.m. in the Arsenal Gallery. Please note that attendees must use their CT/AL balances for the trip.
Please RSVP to Brian Aucoin at 212.360.2749 / brian.aucoin@parks.nyc.gov

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
“Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends.”
Czech Proverb