Neighborhood invited to help shape future of ABC Playground

Residents of the Lower East Side are invited to have their say in the future of a local park. 

NYC Parks is kicking off the design process for the renovation of ABC Playground, located adjacent to P.S. 20 on Houston Street between Essex and Norfolk, and is seeking community input.

A virtual public meeting takes place Thursday evening (May 29) from 6:30-8 to gather ideas and feedback from local residents. Attendees can share how the playground could better serve the neighborhood, from improved play structures to green space enhancements or accessibility upgrades.

Ideas collected during the meeting will help shape a preliminary design, which will later be presented to the Community Board 3 Parks Committee for public review.

Interested community members are encouraged to register in advance (link) to attend the meeting. 

Those who can't make the meeting can leave comments online afterward — for up to a week. The link will be here after Thursday's session.

This is a chance for local voices to help reimagine a community space that reflects the needs and priorities of those who use it most. 

Here's a look at the current playground...

... and we hope the frog will be part of any new plans!

A call to revamp ABC Playground at P.S. 20 on Houston and Essex

District 1, an area covering the Lower East Side, NoHo, Chinatown, and more, is currently gathering feedback in the city's Participatory Budget (PBNYC) program. (Christopher Marte is the new City Council representative for District 1. District 2, which includes the East Village and is led by Carlina Rivera, is not in this PBNYC cycle.) 

As you may know, PBNYC enables NYC residents to propose, evaluate and vote on projects in their districts. Successful projects will be funded by Council Member discretionary funds. 

Several EVG readers are championing a revamp of the ABC Playground at Houston and Essex outside P.S. 20 Anna Silver.

Here's what is proposed:

ABC Playground, an expansive 0.45-acre space at the prime Lower East Side intersection of Houston and Essex streets, has outstanding, untapped potential to better serve its diverse, multi-generational public. Built in 1934 and last renovated in 1998, the severely under-resourced park has unresolved violations. 

The two outdated metal play structures are often in disrepair, and the large fields of cracked, uneven pavement are hazardous. All materials are dilapidated or structurally deteriorating. Drainage issues and failing plumbing infrastructure frequently create large puddles that render the center of the park unusable. ABC Playground requires significant upgrades to improve safety, satisfy building code, and realize its mission as a recreational space for education and community building. 

Requested upgrades include: two new play structures with rubber safety surfacing for ages 1-4 and 5-12; a water element for all ages; one set of adult and child drinking fountains; an asphalt track; a multi-purpose asphalt field with markings for baseball, hopscotch, and other games; a basketball court with new hoops; 15 concrete park benches to enhance accessibility and create inviting meeting areas; and 8 trash receptacles.

You can leave comments and endorse this project here. 

There are dozens of proposed projects for District 1, and find those at this link.