Ground Breaks On Reconstruction Of Popular Inwood Playground

FORT TRYON PARK, NY — A ceremonial groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Anne Loftus Playground in Upper Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park took place Wednesday morning.

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, who secured $4.2 million for the remodeling of the playground, took part in the groundbreaking along with members of the New York City Parks Department.

The Anne Loftus Playground is located in the northeast corner of Fort Tryon Park and is named after a beloved Inwood resident who served on Community Board 12 for nearly a decade.

"The Anne Loftus Playground has served the Northern Manhattan community for many decades," Rodriguez said in a news release. "Many of the upgrades coming to the playground will help give this space a renewed life."

The Upper Manhattan playground has been closed since the end of August in preperation for the construction project. The reconstruction will overhaul the water feature and spray shower, install new play and exercise equipment and add plants.

A new half-court basketball setup and climbing equipment will also be added to the playground. The current plan includes adding security lights, but they won't be bright enough to let people play basketball after it gets dark.

“Anne Loftus Playground is a treasured playscape and gathering place for the surrounding community, and thanks to funding from Council Member Rodriguez, this exciting project will make the northeast corner of Fort Tryon Park more dynamic and accessible,” said Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “With a transformed spray shower area, new recreational features and more, the renovated site will serve as a source of pride and fun for Washington Heights and Inwood for years to come.”

The last time the playground received a major reconstruction was in 1995, which installed new pavement and safety surfacing.

Read More:

• Anne Loftus Playground To Close For A Year For Upgrades