Tompkins Square Playground in Limbo
By Hrina Detroy | October 17th, 2008 | | 
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- Published in: The Villager
H'Rina DeTroy
DOWN TIME: Some East Village residents are upset over what they call the slow pace of a playground overhaul project in Tompkins Square Park.
Manhattan -
Where the Tompkins Square Park children’s playground once stood is now a construction site surrounded by chain-link fencing.
A $1.5 million project by the Parks Department that began in August will revamp the playground. But some East Village residents are dismayed.
Playground in Limbo? How is that an appropriate led? The main playground has been under-renovation for less than a month. It takes time to build something wonderful and new. Patience please — as well as some perspective! The adjoining playgrounds in Tompkins are all open for business — plus the timing of this renovation was schedule for the winter for the least inconvenience. The architect worked her butt to get this project off the ground. Lets show some consideration and thankfulness for her efforts as well as for the Parks Dept.’s continual dedication to the improvement of Tompkins Square.
It turned out to be a very appropriate lead since the playground in question is still IN LIMBO almost one year after this article was published. No sign of workers. No sign of renovation. Word on the street is that the parks dept. ran out of money, so now we’re blessed with a half-finished playground to detour around for an indefinite period of time.