The whale from Carty Park has been restored as part of the park’s $5.4 million renovation. Image Credit: Parks Dept.
On March 26, 2024, the Parks Department celebrated the reopening of the playground at John J. Carty Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, following a $5.4 million renovation. Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Martin Maher, Council Member Justin Brannan, and community members joined to celebrate the renovation.
The playground features play spaces for 2-5 year old and 5-12 year old children, in addition to a sensory play feature that was designed with consultation from an occupational therapist. The sensory play feature includes dashed painted lines and colorful shapes on the pavement which enhance visual stimulation and promote brain development. The playground also includes new fitness equipment, spray showers, ping pong tables, and seating. The park’s notable stone whale, a climbable statue children can play on, was also restored and painted black and blue.
The park was named after John J. Carty, a Bay Ridge native who dedicated over 30 years of his life to working in city government. After Carty’s passing in December 1970, Mayor Abraham Beame stated that Carty “would probably have been selected by his fellow professionals in government as one of the great urban experts and public servants in the history of this city.”
Council Member Brannan stated, “One of the best parts of my job is getting to improve the neighborhood that I grew up in and still live in. I don’t want Bay Ridge residents to envy what other neighborhoods have – I want other neighborhoods to envy what we have here! This park has only gotten more popular as more families move to Bay Ridge and as kids I grew up with have kids of their own. I’m so happy we could make these great improvements, and I look forward to all the other wonderful projects we have planned for Bay Ridge parks.”
Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Maher stated, “We’re thrilled to welcome Brooklynites back to the new and improved playground at John J. Carty Park! Thanks to a generous allocation from Council Member Justin Brannan, we’ve completely reconstructed the playground, with new play equipment for kids of all ages and abilities—including an accessible sensory play feature—as well as spray showers, a fitness area, and more. We’re also thrilled that we could preserve the beloved ‘whale’ that has called the playground home for decades, which we know was a top priority for the community. This is a great resource for Bay Ridge residents, and we invite everyone to come have a whale of a time at the reconstructed playground.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the Editor of CityLand and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)