The Disney Company is known for its theme parks, but now Disney is thinking small, trying to make city playgrounds more fun for the kids who use them. NY1's Roger Clark visited one of the first to try out the new ideas.
The city parks department has nearly one thousand playgrounds, with some neat stuff for kids to frolic on.
"We have interesting play equipment, fun play equipment, but we don't have things that kids can actually move around," says New York City Parks and Recreation Assistant Commissioner Nancy Bathold.
That is changing, through a pilot program that is underway in ten city parks in all five boroughs, like Tremont Park in the Bronx, and Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn. The program will introduce moveable items to the playgrounds, for instance, bringing classics like sandboxes, pails and shovels to playgrounds that don't have them. And there are buildings blocks, even good old fashioned wagons, all allowing kids to interact more with their playground.
"We are offering a chance to be more imaginative," says Bathold.
The program is being supported by the Walt Disney Company with funding and staffing for the sites. Ten parks summer playground associates have been trained to work in the participating playgrounds.
"By this interactive idea of having the workers having them facilitate the play," said Bernadette Longford of the Walt Disney Company.
Jamal Pinckney is one of those giving kids a hand with the new equipment.
"The turnout where I'm at has been wonderful. The kids come out and ask me all the time," said Pinckney. "Sometimes I have to put the sand away because I only have so much sand, you know. Unfortunately, we're not the beach."
Whether or not this project is a success really depends on if the kids like it or not. And so far, from what we've seen, it looks like they are getting real kick out of it.
"It's fun like playing around doing a castle, and everything, that you want to do," said Anahi Arriaga.
Parks says if the program does prove to be a success, they will expand it to other sites.
