NYC’s New Battery Playscape Combines Education with Climate-Resilient Design

The Battery Conservancy and NYC Parks have
opened the highly predicted, 1.5-acre Battery
Playscape — featuring an
remarkable array of play selections for small children of all ages and capabilities.
Battery Playscape was imagined publish-Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and serves as a
worldwide exemplar for playgrounds situated in flood zone areas.

The park capabilities 5 ecological zones, every single inspired by topography produced by
h2o shaping the land:

• Bluff has five granite slides

• Riverbed and Marsh characteristic salt-tolerant gardens, elevated tree
  houses, and sand/h2o participate in

• Meadow options a biodiverse array of conifers, indigenous shrubs, grasses
  and blooming perennials and

• Dune characteristics an undulating climbing structure and ShowBox — the
  initial improv/puppet theater in a New York Metropolis playground.

Warrie Price tag, president and founder of The Battery Conservancy, says the
Playscape was created to “immerse small children into the purely natural wonders fashioned by
plants, trees, sand, and historic stone when creating an understanding of
accommodating local climate.”

The Battery Conservancy initiated Playscape’s style submit-Sandy, when The
Battery survived the total power of the 15-foot storm surge. Accounting for
sea-level increase grew to become a focal level of the style procedure, and Playscape
succeeds in transforming local weather issues into resourceful enjoy and discovering
prospects.

Designed by BKSK Architects and Starr Whitehouse
Landscape Architects and Planners with custom
fabrication by Maglin, the new Playscape triples the
size of the former Battery playground. The existing space accounts for the
growing number of Lower Manhattan households, growing elementary educational institutions and
maximize in visitation by small children from all 5 boroughs — as properly as site visitors
to New York City.

“The Playscape will provide as a product for imaginative engage in and resilient style and design
for years to arrive. From drinking water-absorbent bioswales to a magnificent puppet theater,
this playground is truly distinct from any other in New York Town,” stated NYC
Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “As the ultimate piece of The Battery
Master Strategy, this 1.5-acre playground completes the a long time-lengthy procedure of
revitalizing this historic web page. We thank the Conservancy for their leadership
in reimagining this playground and establishing The Battery as a thriving
waterfront park and a location for New Yorkers and travellers from around the
planet.”

Playscape — which gained a 2020 Benefit Award from the American Society of
Landscape Architects New York Chapter — marks the last important construction
milestone in the 25+ 12 months background of The Battery Conservancy’s function to
revitalize The Battery, New York City’s oldest continually used community room.
The $18.3 million challenge was funded by means of grants and donations from the
Lessen Manhattan Development Corporation, the MTA, Mayor Invoice de
Blasio, City Council Member Margaret Chin, and Manhattan Borough President
Gale Brewer.

By means of partnerships with NYC Parks, New York Condition, the National Park Provider,
and personal people and corporations, the Battery Conservancy has elevated
far more than $170 million. Today, The Conservancy — driven by its motivation to
environmental stewardship, historic authenticity, design and style excellence,
modern instruction, and openness to all — spearheads the revitalization of the
city’s birthplace park. The Battery’s breathtaking harbor views, expansive
gardens, bike paths, grand lawns, and family points of interest make it 1 of New York
City’s premier cultural places.

The Battery Playscape will be open up year-round from 8 am to dusk and is absolutely free to
all users of the public supervising and/or accompanying young children. Found at
the northeast corner of The Battery, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry
Making and SeaGlass Carousel, the Playscape is available from State
Road and South Street. Nearest community transportation options involve the 4/5, 1
and R/W subway strains, bus routes and new bicycle routes.