So long — smell ya later!

This morning, we bid farewell to the porta-potties that bravely served Tompkins Square Park during the closure of the field house for renovations... they're off now to head to the second weekend of Coachella 2025...

You can read some of the past portable potty posts here. 

Thanks to our friends at DeColores Community Yard for the top pic and Joann Falkenburg for the second photo!

Tompkins Square Park Field House officially reopens after renovations (and you won't recognize the restrooms)

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After more than 18 months of renovations, the field house and restrooms at Tompkins Square Park officially reopened yesterday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on an actual spring-like day.

Susan Donoghue, NYC Department of Parks commissioner, along with other Parks officials, local elected officials, and Community Board reps, did the honors...

The reconstruction of the field house that serves the 10.5-acre park included a complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, upgrading all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements feature reconfigured layouts, new entryways, ADA-compliant ramps, and renovated restrooms and maintenance areas. The mayor's office funded the $5.6 million renovations.

The newly ADA-compliant bathrooms were spotless (for how long?). Each came stocked with amenities like — what? — soap and toilet paper...

Posted hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (There seemed to be confusion over the restroom hours — we received several different answers.)

While the ceremony was still wrapping up, neighborhood kids were already making themselves at home near the Slocum Memorial Fountain, and visitors wasted no time enjoying the newly accessible space.

Overall, the mood was upbeat and even celebratory. After a long stretch of construction and closed-off areas, residents seemed pleased to reclaim one of the East Village's most active public spaces.

And now, join us in a moment of silence... we appreciated your service...

The Tompkins Square Park field house and restrooms are back in service

As mentioned earlier, the Tompkins Square Park field house has returned to service after nearly two years of upgrades. 

EVG's Stacie Joy was at this afternoon's ribbon-cutting ceremony... we'll post the photos and a recap in the morning.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially unveil the renovated Tompkins Square Park field house

Top photos from Saturday

After nearly two years of work, the Tompkins Square Park field house — now without the protective chain-link construction fence — has returned to service. (And farewell to the porta-potties!) 

To mark the occasion, there's a ribbon-cutting ceremony today (Monday!) at 3 p.m. featuring Susan Donoghue, NYC Department of Parks commissioner, and several local elected officials. The public is invited to the event on the Ninth Street transverse between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Look for the giant ceremonial scissors.) 

The reconstruction of the field house that serves the 10.5-acre park included a complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, upgrading all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements feature reconfigured layouts, new entryways, ADA-compliant ramps, and renovated restrooms and maintenance areas. 

The mayor's office funded the $5.6 million renovations, which were much needed because the field house rarely had heat or hot water, and the restrooms made a strong case for exorcism before plumbing.

The space, which includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain, has been closed to the public during renovations. 

Here's a look (through the gate) at the area behind the field house from last week ...

The Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a pool) was also out of commission for two consecutive summers. However, the pool was not part of the renovation project, as you can see from this photo from last week...

Expect a new pool in the years ahead, though. Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants to fund 37 projects as part of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

Tompkins Square Park will receive $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the current capacity of the above-ground model for children and their guardians. The project's start date has not been announced.

Asphalt bungle: Rough walkway still a hazard near Tompkins Square Park field House

Photos Saturday by Steven 

It appears workers have finished repaving the area around the renovated (and still closed) Tompkins Square Park field house. 

Workers started the job on Wednesday, and one crew member said it would take two weeks to complete. (Two weeks usually means eight weeks.)

The new asphalt only extends the length of the field house and the area near the ping-pong table...

As these photos from yesterday show, the pocked pavement along the Ninth Street walkway — on both sides of the field house — remains unchanged. It's treacherous terrain for anyone with mobility issues and a long-overdue improvement that would benefit all parkgoers.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Asphalt jungle: New pathways for the Tompkins Square Park field house

Asphalt jungle: New pathways for the Tompkins Square Park field house

Photos by Steven 

While the reconstruction of the Tompkins Square Park field house is complete (100% complete, per the Parks website)... there is still work to be done around the structure. 

This morning, workers arrived to replace the pavement surrounding the field house, a project that one of the crew members said would take two weeks to complete. (And a task made more manageable without the construction trailer in the way.) 

During this time, lobs might be more challenging to maneuver at the ping-pong table...

Also... at some point, the city should consider repaving all the pathways in the Park...

Moving on: The construction trailer has left Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Late Monday night (10:30, a source said!), workers removed the construction trailer from Tompkins Square Park, marking another step toward a construction-free area around the field house.

The trailer arrived on May 5, 2023, as renovations were ramping up. It was plopped down a few convenient feet from the well-used ping-pong table.

An NYC Parks official told us earlier this month that the field house upgrades were complete, and the Park staff was conducting final inspections.

There is still no word on when the area might reopen. The official said they are still working on scheduling a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the upgraded facility. 

The reconstruction of the field house included a complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, upgrading all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements feature reconfigured layouts, new entryways, ADA-compliant ramps, and renovated restrooms and maintenance areas. 

The mayor's office funded the $5.6 million renovations, which were much needed because the field house rarely had heat or hot water, and the restrooms could have been used in the first film in the "Saw" franchise.

Tompkins Square Park upgrades: When will the field house and restrooms reopen?

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

NYC Parks officials tell us that the nearly 20-month renovations of the Tompkins Square Park field house are expected to be completed by the end of the month or early February. 

According to the NYC Parks' Capital Project Tracker (renovation PDF here), the work started on-site in May 2023 and is 93% complete. The original timeline listed a completion date of September 2024. 

Here's background on the work via Parks officials: 

The reconstruction of the field house in Tompkins Square Park will result in the complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, including all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements include reconfiguration of interior layouts, new entryways, and ADA-compliant ramps. The first aid room, lifeguard locker room and maintenance areas also have been renovated.

The $5.6 million funding for the much-needed renovations — the field house rarely had heat or hot water — came from the mayor's office. 

Here's a look at the area on Friday...

"These upgrades are part of the overall project to bring the building up to current codes and standards, enhance accessibility, and create more effective spaces for maintenance and operations," Press Officer Kelsey Jean-Baptiste told us. 

For the past 20 months, the busy 10.5-acre park has been without the field house restrooms, which, pre-renovation, looked like sets for a low-budget horror film. For relief, there were portable toilets. Sometimes, there were three porta-potties for use; sometimes, there were none. (This post has more about the Tompkins toilet drama.) 

Here's a look behind the field house. The space, which includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain, has been closed to the public during renovations. The photos include shots of the refurbished locker rooms for the mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool!) and ADA-compliant ramps...

The Tompkins Square mini pool was also out of commission for two consecutive summers. However, the pool itself was not part of the renovation project.

Expect a new pool in the years ahead, though. Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants to fund 37 projects as part of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

Tompkins Square Park will receive $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the current capacity of the above-ground model for children and their guardians. The project's start date has not been announced.

 

The Tompkins Square Park field house will likely return to service before an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

3 new loos for you in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

Today saw the changing of the porta-potties in Tompkins Square Park. (Look for the pay-per-view special coming soon.)

And to be clear, the new arrivals aren't necessarily new, like factory fresh, more like cleaner (cleanish?) than the previous triplex that served with honor this summer...

Top photo: It's important to pause for a moment and strengthen your resolve before entering.

As previously reported, the restrooms in the Tompkins Square Park field house are now closed as part of an 18-month renovation. The Parks Department website lists the construction as 72% complete with a September 2024 completion date.