Harlem Playground Gets $5 Million Makeover, City Says

HARLEM, NY — City officials and local residents celebrated the reopening of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Tuesday after the park received a $5 million makeover.

The new park — which used to be called Martin Luther King, Jr. Playground — was one of five to open Tuesday for the first day of the spring season, city officials said. Each park that opened Tuesday was renovated through the city's Community Parks Initiative.

"In 2014 we launched the Community Parks Initiative with a commitment to bring world-class neighborhood parks to all New Yorkers. Today, we’re seeing the results of that promise," Mayor de Blasio said in a statement. "The five completely rebuilt parks we opened today illustrate the breadth and impact of CPI, which has already impacted more than one million children through physical park improvements, expanded programming, and enhanced community partnerships."

The new Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, which is located on Lenox Avenue and West 114th Street, features play areas for a number of age groups, a spray shower, two full size basketball courts, a synthetic turf area and an outdoor gym with adult fitness equipment, city officials said.

The city Department of Environmental Preservation also invested money into the new park for green infrastructure such as rain gardens and permeable pavers, which will reduce the strain on the city sewer system.

"The Community Parks Initiative is the right approach: using data-driven criteria to target parks investments in the neighborhoods that need it most," Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said in a statement. "I’m thrilled to see the new MLK playground open. The redesigned space and new equipment will bring the community together, help children play and learn, and help the neighborhood get the most out of this park."

Photo by Google Maps street view