Diana Ross Playground
Encyclopedia
The Diana Ross Playground is located in New York City
's Central Park
, inside the park at West 81st Street and Central Park West
. Its namesake, the recording artist Diana Ross
, who lives across the street in The Beresford
, gave a fabled 1983 free concert in Central Park and pledged to fund the project with proceeds from the television rights; however, when this did not prove profitable, she used personal resources. Groundbreaking took place in September 1986, with both Ross and then-Mayor Ed Koch
present. Ross reportedly called the event "one of the most fulfilling aspects of [her] life and career."
Today, the playground
is equipped with sturdy wood equipment, tire swings, a tube slide, a corkscrew slide, sandboxes, rope bridges, and a mushroom-style water feature. Open daily from 7:30am to dusk, the space is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners program.
To the north of the playground, the ground rises in a steep slope to Summit Rock, the highest point in Central Park. To the east, secluded in shrub plantings, is Tanner's Spring, one of two natural springs that remain in the park. Its name commemorates Dr. Henry S. Tanner, a proponent of therapeutic fasting
, who in the summer of 1880 elected to fast under constant observation for forty days and nights, supplied only by water from this spring. M.M. Graff, in relating the story, observed "The legend quite naturally arose that the water of the spring contained some magically concentrated nutrients". Before the construction of the park, the spring provided water for the community of Seneca Village
, located to the north of Summit Hill, which at the time was called "Goat Hill".
The playground's fame on a national level can be attributed to actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard
, who lambasted the location's ironic name in her 2006 off-Broadway show Everything Bad & Beautiful
and in a June 16, 2006 appearance on the ABC
daytime talk show The View. Bernhard said the playground was a place "where children learn to be vicious, backstabbing, and throw their arms up in front of other children," in reference to the diva
reputation of Ross.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, inside the park at West 81st Street and Central Park West
Central Park West
Central Park West is an avenue that runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the United States....
. Its namesake, the recording artist Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, who lives across the street in The Beresford
The Beresford
The Beresford, at 211 Central Park West, between 81st and 82nd Streets, is an upscale, 23-floor apartment building in New York City. The architect, Emery Roth, was famous for building luxury apartments and hotels throughout the city...
, gave a fabled 1983 free concert in Central Park and pledged to fund the project with proceeds from the television rights; however, when this did not prove profitable, she used personal resources. Groundbreaking took place in September 1986, with both Ross and then-Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
present. Ross reportedly called the event "one of the most fulfilling aspects of [her] life and career."
Today, the playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
is equipped with sturdy wood equipment, tire swings, a tube slide, a corkscrew slide, sandboxes, rope bridges, and a mushroom-style water feature. Open daily from 7:30am to dusk, the space is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners program.
To the north of the playground, the ground rises in a steep slope to Summit Rock, the highest point in Central Park. To the east, secluded in shrub plantings, is Tanner's Spring, one of two natural springs that remain in the park. Its name commemorates Dr. Henry S. Tanner, a proponent of therapeutic fasting
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
, who in the summer of 1880 elected to fast under constant observation for forty days and nights, supplied only by water from this spring. M.M. Graff, in relating the story, observed "The legend quite naturally arose that the water of the spring contained some magically concentrated nutrients". Before the construction of the park, the spring provided water for the community of Seneca Village
Seneca Village
Seneca Village was a small village on the island of Manhattan, New York, founded by free blacks. Seneca Village existed from 1825 through 1857, when it was torn down due to the construction of Central Park....
, located to the north of Summit Hill, which at the time was called "Goat Hill".
The playground's fame on a national level can be attributed to actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
, who lambasted the location's ironic name in her 2006 off-Broadway show Everything Bad & Beautiful
Everything Bad & Beautiful
Everything Bad & Beautiful is the name of a live stage show and album performed/recorded by singer/comedienne/actress Sandra Bernhard. The show ran in 2006 in New York City at the Daryl Roth Theater. In the performance Bernhard does what she is best known for: she rips apart celebrity culture while...
and in a June 16, 2006 appearance on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
daytime talk show The View. Bernhard said the playground was a place "where children learn to be vicious, backstabbing, and throw their arms up in front of other children," in reference to the diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
reputation of Ross.