Testimony of

LANDMARK
WEST!
Certificate of Appropriateness Committee
Before the Public Design Commission
Central Park Mariners' Playground
September 9th, 2015

LANDMARK WEST! is a not-for-profit community organization committed to the

preservation of the architectural heritage of the Upper West Side.
LANDMARK WEST! (LW) and our Certificate of Appropriateness Committee wish to
comment on the application to rebuild the Mariners' Playground-a Robert Moses-era
playground located in the Central Park Scenic Landmark.
The Mariners' Playground is a prime candidate for renovation. Employing sustainable
practices along with accessibility standards consistent with the goals of a restored Central
Park, the Central Park's Conservancy proposal is a win for the community, and would
have no impact on significant historical elements.
The playground as it currently exists was renovated in the 1990's. The proposed design
rekindles the spirit of late 1930's and 1940's playgrounds by maintaining the open play
space while incorporating the best of modern infrastructure to increase play opportunities.
Our Certificate of Appropriateness Committee finds that the loss of four benches is
acceptable in pursuit of making the space accessible to children with disabilities.
We applaud the CPC for looking for inspiration to the original Robert Moses playground
at this site. The CPC has presented compelling historical photos that have inspired the
creative return of elements from the original Robert Moses era playground, including
whimsical neoclassical play pavilions, open space for free play, and a perimeter of wood
and concrete benches. Playgrounds from this era have been much maligned, and it is
refreshing to see the Conservancy taking up the challenge to restore and celebrate play
elements from this significant period of the Park's history - when marginal playgrounds
were originally introduced to Central Park in the 1930s.
Our one objection is about the permanent marking of proscribed games in the playground
pavement. In the spirit of the original playground, and in subsequent eras of play that
sought to foster children's creativity, the pavement should remain a blank slate for
children to inscribe their own games with playground chalk, as city children have done
for generations. Also, our C of A committee questioned the necessity of re-grading the
existing path to create a series of ramps and plateaus. It would be preferable to find a
solution to have a continuous, sinuous path more in keeping with other historic paths in
Central Park.

Aside from these factors, we find the proposal's interventions strengthen the playground
making it more inviting for additional public use and combine prominent layers of history
into a playground appropriate for Central Park.