A safer, improved playground in the gem of Cobble Hill
Matching Gift Alert
Due to a generous matching gift, donations from today through 6/30 will be matched 2:1. This will make your dollars go further and construction start sooner!
(Match will be provided up to $5,000 per donation until we reach $25,000 match cap is reached, unlocking $50,000 of total matching funds)
The slide and spider climber in Cobble Hill Park are broken, and the spider no longer meets safety regulations. For years, we were told we could not replace the equipment without removing the beloved sandbox or redesigning the entire play area–but now, working with NYC Parks, we’ve found a way forward.
Through the Adopt-a-Park program we can replace just the broken equipment, add an ADA-compliant play board, and avoid the years-long wait for a City-funded capital project. But it also means: we need to raise the funds ourselves.
Actual size of new safety surface
🎯 We need to raise $150,000 to make this project a reality. Every dollar helps.
We know that’s a big number. The main driver is the safety surface expansion, which is required to install modern climbing equipment and a slide. But we heard loud and clear in our community survey how important it is to keep these gross motor elements in the park—and this is the only way to do it.
The sooner we hit our goal, the sooner the work begins
The new playground can be installed in just 2 weeks once funding is secured. Every donation gets us closer. Donations go to the Cobble Hill Community Fund, a 501(c)(3) (Tax Id: 11-2705851). You can donate via our square site page or by sending a check to Cobble Hill Community Fund, P.O. Box 376, Brooklyn, NY 11201. For larger donations, please email cha@cobblehill.nyc and we can provide wire information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t the City paying for the new equipment?
When the City pays its significantly more expensive, can take years to secure funding, and then another few years before it gets done. No share on Parks, that’s just the reality of living in a big city. Through Adopt-a-Park we can cut the time and cost to get this done.
Why did you prioritize keeping the sandbox over the other equipment?
Though controversial, the sandbox is largely beloved and dates back to the creation of Cobble Hill Park. It’s also the only structure that isn’t broken or in violation of safety standards.
Why can’t we have swings?
Unfortunately the fall radius for swings is too large for our play area to accommodate.
The spider is so iconic, why can’t we keep the spider?
After a hole in the rusted eyes injured a young child (resulting in the eyes being removed), we were told the entire structure no longer met safety standards and needed to be replaced. A large driver of the safety surface expansion was being able to put in another climber (as opposed to, e.g., a small play house). While it’s hard to say goodbye, we’re excited to create new memories with equipment the next generation can love (and survive)!
Scroll through to see the full presentation from our annual meeting, which outlines the plan, the equipment, and how we got here.
