Burned Park To Be Restored

Although Auburndale children will not be able to play in the Underhill Playground this Thanksgiving, the park could be fully restored within two months, according to the New York City Parks & Recreation Department.
Nearly one month after an accelerant-driven fire torched the Underhill Playground on October 17, Parks & Recreation is close to finalizing plans with a contractor to begin approximately $125,000 worth of repairs to the park, which will be funded through the Mayor's Office, that could begin as early as the beginning of December.
Abby Lootens, a spokesperson for Parks & Recreation said that the contractor would remove the burned play equipment and all of the safety surfacing in the area and replace all of that equipment.
Less than 10 years ago, the playground underwent a complete renovated at a cost of $764,000. The renovation included the addition of three play areas, decorative fencing and safety surfacing to the playground that already boasted a wading pool, sandpit, horseshoe pits, and basketball, handball and shuffleboard courts.
Meanwhile, police arrested a 15-year-old boy on November 7 related to the incident after finding a graffiti tag near the site.
However, according Connie Pankratz, Deputy Communications Director for the New York City Law Department, the boy has not been charged yet, and the case is still under investigation.