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Residents, board press Parks to add restroom to Zimmerman Playground renovation
Summary
Community Board 11 members and residents urged Parks to explain why Zimmerman Playground’s multi‑million‑dollar renovation proceeded without a permanent bathroom and asked staff to coordinate with Councilmember Kevin Riley’s office to add the restroom in the current phase or speed its delivery.
Chair Janice Walker and several residents pressed Parks staff on Nov. 12 after learning a long‑awaited restroom was not included in the current renovation of Zimmerman Playground.
Walker said funding has been allocated for the renovation but the restroom was omitted from the present construction scope. "A bathroom is needed. It's become a problem issue," Walker said, describing the omission as a "quality of life" concern for women, children and families who use the playground.
Resident Kaye, who said she has lived in the neighborhood for 33 years, told the committee the delay was "shameful and shocking" and said porta‑potties currently on site are unsanitary and inadequate. "These people have been waiting years and years," she said.
Charles Andras, who identified himself to the committee as the parks replacement for the prior recreation manager Juan Cortez, said he did not yet have full Webex access but would follow up. "Note taken, and I will run it up my chain of command and look into it," Andras said, and agreed to provide contact information and coordinate with the board and Councilmember Kevin Riley's staff.
Board members and speakers advised the committee to request clarification from Riley's office and, if needed, the mayor's office about how the design proceeded without the bathroom and whether adding a restroom during the current construction phase is feasible. Roxanne urged staff to confirm who funded which elements and whether including the bathroom now would reduce cost and disruption compared with adding it later.
The committee asked Parks staff to report back at the next meeting and to raise the issue at the Development, Sanitation and Construction (DSC) meeting the following day. The item remains a matter for agency coordination; no formal motion or vote was recorded.
The most recent, completed parks project noted in the meeting was the Matthew Molineux playground installation, which a community member said was finished with community input. Committee members also clarified that holiday lights along Williamsbridge had been paid for by Councilmember Marmorato's office and that DOT regulations limit attaching lights to poles with traffic signals.
The committee scheduled follow‑up and requested written status updates from Parks and Riley's office rather than taking immediate formal action at the meeting.
