Standing Room Only at the Sprinklers

For a full third of the perimeter, the benches around the sprinklers have been removed. Why? Well, several times since late Winter, they have been found propped up against the shallow steps as slides (or whatever the "proper" terminology is) for the skateboarding/roller-blading whipper-snappers.

Selfish. Destructive. Ugly. That's the behavior that leads to actions like this.

Ever since the walkways on the 44th side of the park were re-paved, they've been popular with the skateboarders. Last year, most of the kids were very good about halting their kickflips and so on when other park-goers passed through. It is, after all, a public walkway and not a skatepark.

This year, the group has gotten a lot bigger, and they don't stop for anyone. In fact, several times, I've seen and heard about skateboards spinning pretty darn close to adult knees and smaller beings' heads. When it's early, I've asked them to wait while I pass by, and they do. But when it's a large group, it becomes far too uncool to even acknowledge someone in my advanced state of whatever-the-opposite-of-cool is.

I guess using the entrance and a chunk of the walkway isn't enough excitement for our skateboarders (and possibly the relative newcomers - the rollerbladers by the concrete steps). They need more, they need to improvise ways to grind and whatever else they do for an adrenalin rush. Apparently, the City's skatepark over in Owl's Head isn't good enough (or maybe they aren't good enough). It's more fun to remove seating around a highly trafficked part of the park that's used by hundreds of people every hot day. The good news is, there is a finite supply of benches around the sprinklers, so it will have to end at some point. The bad news is, most of the shady spots are already gone, and we're playing a warped game of musical chairs every time we go to the sprinklers to cool off.

For the benefit of one or two commenters: I know, I know. This is a yuppie, destruction of Sunset Park attitude. Wanting to keep the park in a useable state for the majority of Park-goers is disrespectful of what Sunset Park is and how it's always been.

Please. Sorry: Puh-Lease.

What You See in Sunset Park: Rainbows, Graffiti, and Scooters

Perfect Weather for Sprinklers

While Saturday's opening of the pool had some let-downs (threat of thunderstorms and the lightning that comes with it), Sunday was perfect. The sprinklers were on (although the sprinkler in the playground was not, happily), and the pool seemed well-utilized. The parade of pool-goers on the way to and from the subway station has begun!

How was it? Did anyone check out the pool and love it? Hate it? Lap swims start July 6th- 7-8:30 in the AM and PM.

Frogs Lose their Heads, Reveal Webless Hands in Playground

It's shocking imagery, I know. These poor frogs, all sitting in a circle around the sprinkler in the playground on 3rd Avenue and 40th Street. (Playground Three-Forty, if you want a name.) I don't usually frequent this playground, but it was totally empty...perhaps because of the exhaust coming from the BQE/Gowanus just feet away.

I can't imagine that hacked off concrete is a particularly safe situation for kids running and shrieking during the warmer months when water sprays from the center of the frogs' circle. Sharp concrete frog necks versus soft, squishy child flesh and limbs = no good outcome. Since this area is maintained by both the BOE and NYC Parks, hopefully someone will get around to replacing or fixing up these amphibians.

Another shocking discovery was that these frogs do not have webbed feet. Even frogs that live most of their time on land have SOME webbing, don't they? Are these actually Sphinx-like creatures? Perhaps the missing heads are actually human and that's what ticked off the vandals enough to destroy the tiny statues.

Sprinkler Area Gets Used and Abused

Photo courtesy of Vanessa at Vee's Vision.

Remember the scene above? Granted, not without its problems. A good time had by most, nonetheless.

A couple of seasons of neglect have left the kiddie sprinkler area looking much worse for wear.

And it has been a lot of wear. Wonder where the benches went? Not to worry. They didn't get far.

Besides being a hang-out for impromptu binge drinking and passing out, this area has also become a skateboarding destination. I guess the kids who come here don't mind putting in a little elbow grease (or at least some sweat equity) for their skatepark. Or maybe they're afraid of the super-tough skateboarders who hang out at the actual skatepark at Owl's Head Park. Their graffiti is really boring, too. And ugly. Unfortunately, it's also really big. They were proud of it though, seeing as how they signed their artwork.