Public Parks

The Foundation’s work in creating and maintaining livable public parks and public gardens expanded in 2011. We committed to underwrite the reconstruction of the East 79th Street Playground, one of the most heavily used and distinctive features of Central Park. This playground’s focal point is the sculpture Group of Bears, a work be renowned artist Paul Manship. It is also commonly referred to as Three Bears. The sculpture sits on a stepped platform, surrounded by a large circular seating area at the entrance to the playground. Manship’s other works in Central Park include the Osborn Gates at Ancient Playground and the Lehman Gates at the Children’s Zoo. The playground’s current bucket swings, a sandbox with a spiral slide and two climbers will be removed and the entire playground re-built with our grant.

The renovation of the East 79th Street Playground gives the Foundation the distinction of having underwritten playgrounds at the most Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern reaches of the Central Park Conservancy’s Stewardship. The Foundation’s 1926 Heckscher Ball Fields and Heckscher Playground anchors the Southernmost part of Central Park. We underwrote the completion of the Northern most playground in Central Park which is located at 110th Street and serves the upper Manhattan community, and, in addition to other West Side Playgrounds in the Park, the far West Side 70th Street Ball Field which is located under the Westside Highway next to the Hudson River.

 
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