Today in low-budget snow creatures

Getting creative in Tompkins Square Park with today's light snowfall ... thanks to the EVG reader for this pic.

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.

Sunday's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this from the SW entrance of Tompkins Square Park... where someone tossed five tiny Christmas trees... and perhapos an incriminating red Solo cup...

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

MulchFest is now in week No. 2... stocking up ahead of Chipping Weekend in Tompkins Square Park on Jan. 11-12.

Wednesday's opening shot

Seventh and A about eight hours into 2025...

Saturday's opening shot

Thanks to Cecil Scheib for this snowy view today of Tompkins Square Park. 

And that's pretty much it for the snowfall this morning. Sun is out by noon 9 a.m., per the weather app.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

After yesterday's tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park, attendees were treated to a special guest appearance by Opie, aka Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop... 

Merry Christmas!

At the 33rd annual Tompkins Square Park Holiday tree lighting

Photos and text by Stacie Joy 

Neighborhood residents came together late yesterday afternoon for the 33rd edition of the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park... the ceremony brought the community together in a warm celebration of the season.

Sponsor C&B Cafe provided its famed chocolate chip cookies (with finishing salt), and Veselka brought hot chocolate and apple cider for all... and the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City provided the soundtrack.

Attendees included the original organizer, Albert Fabozzi...

... and in the crowd...

And the big moment...

... and later...

Postscript

Of course, it would only be an East Village tree lighting with some drama from the Parks Department. C&B owner Ali Sahin told me that up until yesterday, Parks officials said they wouldn't be able to get the tree lit in time and would need to postpone the event. 

However, Parks came through in the clutch and got the tree lights up. Still, the light pole they connected the tree to wasn't working, so they had to rewire it at the last minute.

C&B also paid for the lights, which are $30 per string. This tree has 19 strings. (The tree is adorned with all-white lights this year...  creating a vivid and striking display at night.)

Meanwhile, as people left the holiday ceremony, the NYPD was on the scene to hand out tickets for open containers. 

Merry Christmas!

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The grand finale at today's ceremony for the 33rd edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting... we have a lot more photos to post later...

Reminders: The 33rd annual tree lighting is TODAY in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

This afternoon marks the 33rd edition of the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park from 4-5.

And the weather looks quite pleasant for the event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, which features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka. 

Yesterday, workers were spotted with the lighting in the tree. Hopefully, all the lights will work this year. (And here.)

Tompkins Square Park loses an elm tree

A Parks Department crew was seen this morning tending to an elm tree inside the entrance of Tompkins Square Park at Seventh Street and Avenue B. 

While it initially appeared they were pruning branches, it became clear the workers were tasked with removing the entire tree.

Thanks to EVG reader Natalie for these photos...

When is the annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park?

Now that Thanksgiving 2024 is in the books... the 33rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park is set for this Sunday afternoon from 4-5.

The event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka.

Saturday's parting shot

Thanks to Robert Miner for this variation of a favorite East Village view — the Empire State Building through the trees in Tompkins Square Park...

Thursday's opening shot

One of our favorite East Village views — the Empire State Building from Tompkins Square Park. 

This holiday season, we're grateful for our readers. Your support, curiosity and engagement inspire us every day. 

And now, we're announcing our new paywall. (KIDDING!)

Good knight

Photo by Derek Berg 

Along Avenue B at Tompkins Square Park...

Tompkins Square Park today between the rain showers

Early this afternoon, during a break from the showers. 

Per the National Weather Service: "Much-needed rain has arrived. An area of low pressure will remain near the region through Friday night, resulting in periods of rain. Some of the higher elevations west of NY, could see some of the rain mix with or change over to snow [ed note: !!!!]."