The funding for Dinosaur Playground in Riverside Park will renovate the historic pavilion and restrooms while adding accessibility improvements, as New York continues investing in parks and play spaces statewide.
A Much-Needed Renovation Is Coming to a Beloved Upper West Side Playground
New York City playgrounds are the heart and soul of a neighborhood when you’re raising kids. As a parent, you spend a good amount of your time there, in all sorts of weather, and you’ll have meals and snacks there, too. They are staples of parenting in the city. Now, New York Family has learned exclusively that one of the city’s most cherished playgrounds is getting a $3 million renovation of its pavilion and restrooms: Dinosaur Playground in Riverside Park.
Psst… Check Out 2026 Dinosaur Museum NYC Guide
Governor Kathy Hochul’s office said the state awarded the funding to Riverside Park Conservancy. The money will support renovations to the playground’s historic pavilion and public restrooms, to create a safer, more accessible, and more welcoming space for the many NYC families who use it.
“When governments invest in our parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities, we are investing in our children’s health and future,” said Governor Hochul. “This funding will ensure that families have a safe and welcoming space to get offline and get outside and come together in a shared, loved space.”
Located near West 97th Street on the Upper West Side, Dinosaur Playground is a longtime favorite for local families and so special to kids who love dinosaurs. It features two giant fiberglass dinosaurs, a triceratops and a hadrosaur, that make the play space stand out for young visitors. Along with its prehistoric creatures, the playground has the typical swings, sandboxes, climbing equipment, a spray shower, and plenty of shade from towering London planetrees.
Here’s the thing, though: its 1930s-era pavilion houses the only public restrooms in the immediate area, and decades of heavy use and water damage have caused deteriorating interiors, outdated fixtures, and accessibility issues, so it’s in need of significant repairs.
The renovation project will include updated restrooms with new finishes, lighting, fixtures, and accessibility improvements. Additional work will address the pavilion’s roof, terrace, stairs, masonry, ironwork, windows, drinking fountains, and water systems.
New York Is Investing in More Places for Kids to Play
This award fits into Governor Hochul’s Unplug and Play Initiative, New York has invested more than $67.5 million through NY PLAYS (New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization) for 89 playground projects across all 10 regions of the state. Out of this, more than $36 million will support projects in underserved communities.
The funding supports new playgrounds, expanded play spaces, and renovations to existing facilities across New York.
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