If you and your pint-sized crew frequent NYC's best kids' playgrounds, you'll definitely be delighted to know that Central Park's Billy Johnson Playground and Bernard Family Playground are potentially undergoing renovations this year. And never fear: You'll still have the summer to play!
According to Patch, each playground will begin undergoing repairs and additions in fall of 2017 if the renovation project is approved by local community boards. The East 108th/Bernard Family Playground will see a reconfigured swing area with new swings for safety compliance (which includes bucket swings and an adaptive swing), a new sandbox with a sand table and water-sand area, a new spray feature and other play equipment in addition to new benches and landscaping.
At East 67th St/Billy Johnson Playground—best known for its famous slide that kids zoom down on cardboard—there will also be quite a few new additions. Most importantly (to us, anyway), there will be a second granite embankment slide installed that is both accessible and better-suited to the playground's youngest guests. It is also getting a water feature at the amphitheater (to bring an original design concept to life) with spray jets and user-activated features, plus a net climbing area, sand area, tire swing and updated bucket swings. Parents and caregivers will also be please to hear that additional seating will be added around the playground, too.
We also hear that Belvedere Castle may be getting some updates this fall as well. Read more about that here.
Looking for more outdoor fun? Don't miss our guide to the best splash parks, indoor playgrounds and our lineup of great things to do in Central Park with kids.