Hawkward teen phase: Young red-tailed hawks settle into Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

The three juvenile red-tailed hawks continue to explore their new home in Tompkins Square Park, seemingly unbothered by this week's inferno. (There are puddles to help.) 

The young ones are entertaining, learning how to use those things called wings...

Here's a recent photo of a post-clumsy exchange between mother Amelia (on the left) and one of the offspring... they are looking at the dinner rat that plummeted to the main lawn.

As Goggla documented (here and here), the hawklets are honing their skills, from learning to hunt ... balancing on tree limbs ... and staring down pesky squirrels. 

This is the first brood for Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male companion, aka M2. This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. 

Tompkins Square Park mini pool springs a leak — but still set to open Friday

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After a brief delay, the long-dormant mini pool in Tompkins Square Park is expected to reopen this Friday, following minor repairs and final inspections. 

Park staff filled the pool with water last week, as we first noted here, but parkgoers soon noticed it had been drained again. 

According to the Parks Department, two leaks — one along a seam and another in the circulation line — were discovered and repaired late Friday into Saturday morning. The epoxy used in the fix needed time to fully cure before the pool could be refilled and cleared for use.

Between the pandemic and field house renovations, the pool has been out of commission for years, and there was some sinking in the back that had to be leveled, according to a Parks Department employee. 

The city will inspect the site tomorrow. Barring any issues, the pool is still on track to open to the public on Friday at 11 a.m. 

The pool, restricted to use by children and their guardians, will operate in two daily sessions: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., with a one-hour afternoon break for cleaning.

"A lot of families are pleased with the community revitalization area, and we hope families will be happy with the pool," a Parks Department employee told us. "We've made great strides and improvements getting the area ready. It will be used by kids and families; Tompkins is a family-oriented location." 

A tent and a table will be installed at the pool entrance this week to prepare for the opening.

In case you are looking for the Sing for Hope piano in Tompkins Square Park

The Sing for Hope piano that has temporarily taken up residence in Tompkins Square Park has a new home. You can now find it over by the entrance to the basketball courts and mini pool. (H/T Steven!)

It first arrived on June 9 near Temperance Fountain. We don't know why someone moved it. 

This year's piano, designed by Kate Fauvell, will be here through June 29.

Tompkins Square mini pool makes a big summer return

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

For the first time in several years, the Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool) will be open to the public. 

City pools open next Friday, June 27, including Dry Dock on 10th Street and Hamilton Fish on Pitt Street.

This week, Parks employees filled the mini pool, reserved for kids and their guardians. (In other words, no adults without a child!)

New this year (aside from renovated restrooms), hooks along the fence to hang your TUMI Voyageur Patricia backpack, Anya Hindmarch I Am A Plastic Bag water bottle holder and Prada terrycloth scrunchie. (Working on our brand-dropping influence!)

Also new this year is the warning about breath-holding contests...

...to go along with the existing staples...

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a closure between 3-4 p.m. for cleaning. 

The pool initially closed during the pandemic and remained out of service due to a lack of bathroom access while the park's field house was under renovation for the past two summers. 

It's unknown if this might be the last summer for the TSP mini pool. 

Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. As part of that, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the capacity of the current above-ground trailer park model. 

A start date for construction on the new pool has not been announced yet.

Keys to the city: The Sing for Hope piano has arrived in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

The 2025 Sing for Hope pianos are out in the wild... including in Tompkins Square Park. [Updated: The piano has been moved to near the entrance to the basketball courts.]

Background! 

Sing for Hope is an NYC-based nonprofit founded in 2006 by opera singers Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. The two vocalists established Sing for Hope as a resource for New York artists who want to use their art to give back to their community, and the program fosters interaction between artists and communities and makes the arts accessible to the public. 

The Sing for Hope Pianos project brings (one-per-key) artist-painted pianos for three weeks in June each year since 2011 to parks, street corners, subways, and other outdoor public spaces of the five boroughs of New York City.

Artist Kate Fauvell created the designs on the Tompkins piano, titled "Human Kind." Read more about it here.

The piano, one of 15 in the five boroughs, will be here through June 29. 

After their public residency, the pianos will find permanent homes in schools, hospitals and community-based organizations throughout the city.

Also, as far as we can recall, this is the first piano for Tompkins since 2018.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Today in Tompkins Square Park... during one of the 7-8 downpours today...

Tompkins Square Park hawklet watch continues

The Tompkins Square Park hawk chicks continue to GROOOW. 

Mark Hado shared these photos this week, with the top taken via an iPhone through 16 power binoculars. 

As hawk documentarian Goggla noted in her last post, the offspring "suddenly go from little fuzz balls to serious-looking raptors." 

See below! 

This is the first brood for Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male companion, aka M2. (This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. )

Meanwhile, the fledge watch continues. As always, check out Goggla's site for updates.

Tuesday's parting shot

Early evening from Tompkins Square Park...

ICYMI: In Tompkins Square Park, Amelia and her new mate welcome first brood together

ICYMI: Amelia, the resident female red-tailed hawk in Tomkins Square Park, and her new male friend have three chicks in their nest this spring. 

Mark Hado shared these photos this past week...

Given how quickly the hawklets grow on that steady diet of pigeons and rats, they are likely 2x this size by now. 

As Goggla has documented, all three of the hawklets appear to be doing well. This is the first family for the new male this year (going as M2, per Goggla). This marks Amelia's eighth season raising chicks in Tompkins. 

Visit Goggla's site for a primer on M2 (link) ... and the latest on the kids. 

We'll be on fledge watch in the next few weeks. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Concern grows for Christo, Tompkins Square Park's iconic red-tailed hawk, missing for 2 weeks

Fresh sod and DanceFest crowds come together in Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Just days before one of the biggest events of the year in Tompkins Square Park, the Parks Department started re-sodded parts of the main lawn — only for the area to be walked on by festivalgoers and other parkgoers during Saturday's DanceFest, the celebration that follows the annual Dance Parade. 

Despite signs and barriers indicating the lawn was off-limits, the area quickly started filling up with people on one of the spring's summeriest days.

"It was locked earlier today and people don't listen — they hopped the fence," Amy Taylor, the crew chief at Tompkins Square Park, said on Saturday. "The hose is still out there, equipment and the sod too." 

When told the gate was open and the lawn was filling up, Amy reiterated that the area was "technically and officially closed" and said she did not know who had unlocked it. 

Workers had spent three days seeding and laying sod ahead of the weekend. As for why the work was scheduled so close to a major event: "I don't know. No one told me anything." 

Now, the question lingers: Will the newly sodded lawn survive the summer — or will the Parks Department be back to square one? 

And a look yesterday at the lawn, now with caution tape on the freshly sodded areas...

A soggy day for new sod

Photos by Steven 

If you were in Tompkins Square Park earlier today, you likely noticed the stacks of sod near the field house. (Thanks to everyone who emailed about this.)

Apparently, some of the sod didn't grow in behind the renovated building, so the reinforcements have arrived...

Updated: Looks like Park workers will be putting sod on the main lawn too (though maybe they should wait until after DanceFest on Saturday).

Saturday's opening shot

Photo from Tompkins by James Chambers 

Partly sunny and breezy with a high of 75 today, per local weather sources. Tomorrow, Mother's Day, looks to be the same but maybe even nicer. 

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

Reps from PETA gathered in Tompkins Square Park today, urging the public to respect the area's pigeons. 

The appeal comes in the wake of an arrest last week tied to alleged pigeon poaching (for target practice) on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

Community Board 3 to discuss new entrance to Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street

Community Board 3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency Committee meeting tonight includes this agenda item: Support to create an entrance to Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street.

The meeting notice doesn't mention where the entrance might be. Given that you can enter Tompkins on 10th Street from the basketball courts near B and the multi-purpose courts/TF near A, it seems logical that the proposed entrance would be mid-block behind the recently renovated field house.

This is a topic that will likely merit further conversation. 

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30 at the BRC Senior Services Center at 30 Delancey St. (between Chrystie and Forsyth streets).

Saturday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Maypole dancers, please report to Tompkins Square Park...

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

On the right, meet Moony — a rescue spending her first few minutes in Tompkins Square Park today with Jen Shorr, owner of Joyface and HiLot on Avenue C. 

Moony likely already became fast friends with Mellow on the left — one of the coolest, sweetest pups around.

Last splash? Getting the Tompkins Square Park mini pool prepped for 1 more summer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After an extended closure, the Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool) is finally expected to reopen for the 2025 summer season, New York City Parks officials said. 

The pool initially closed during the pandemic and has remained out of service due to a lack of bathroom access while the park's field house was under renovation the past two summers. 

Now that the all-new field house is in operation, the pool is being prepared for use. Some scraping and leveling work has been done to address tilting issues, and a test run will be conducted to ensure it is safe for swimmers, according to Tricia Shimamura, Manhattan Borough Commissioner for NYC Parks & Recreation, during the April 14 field house ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The pool for children and their guardians is anticipated to remain open through Labor Day.

Looking ahead, Tompkins Square Park is also slated for a significant upgrade. Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

As part of that, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the capacity of the current above-ground trailer park model. 

A start date for construction on the new pool has not been announced yet.

In Tompkins Square Park, a creative pushback against tech's reach

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday afternoon, a coalition of NYC-based groups gathered in Tompkins Square Park to question the growing influence of technology on daily life.

The event combined performance, protest, and community activities, with participants wearing gnome hats inspired by the Orange Alternative and Kabouters. Highlights included a Luddite tribunal, a cellphone "hours wasted" vigil, a cardboard iPhone display, open soapbox speeches, and chalk art, all aimed at pushing back against Big Tech's dominance in politics, culture, and personal life.

Some scenes from the afternoon...

According to the organizers: "As New York City continues to evolve as a hub for innovation and tech development, the event serves as a timely opportunity to critically examine the implications of technology on the daily lives of its residents." 

"This isn't a one-off protest — it's part of a larger movement in New York City demanding accountability and alternatives," Bucky Baldwin, a coalition organizer, said in a statement shared before the event. "As residents feel increasingly alienated by algorithmic systems, automated decision-making, and corporate surveillance, these groups are coming together to imagine a more human, more just city."