On the Upper West Side, a conflict over the concrete jungle gym has broken out.
Tensions are high at a playground on West 90th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, where housing-project residents are fighting to keep private-school families out of their freshly rebuilt playground, including those from the exclusive Trinity School, which costs $64,000 a year.
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“Once they redid the playground, everybody and their mamas started coming,” said Cheryl Russell, 62, who has lived in the huge Stephen Wise Towers for 13 years.
“They give us these looks like we’re visitors,” she told The Post.
The unpleasant tug-of-war escalated last week when signs prohibited non-residents from Cassone Playground, widely known as “Llama Park,” because of its collection of concrete horses that are sometimes mistaken for llamas.
“Can’t you read?” enraged homeowners have yelled at parkgoers, alluding to the new and frequently ignored placards. One nanny reported that a resident yelled at her, “You tell the other nannies that they can’t come here, either.”
Residents argue they have the right to restrict access.
The wealthy youngsters, they claim, disrespect residents and the area, which underwent renovations earlier this year after a private management company took over the New York City Housing Authority building in 2021.
“I’ve heard kids say in several cases, ‘Oh, I can’t play with you because you’re black’ or, ‘Why are you in my park?'” explained Russell.
Some people have become very comfortable, she claimed, allowing their children to run around and even urinate in the gardens because there are no public restrooms. As a result, a neighbor briefly hung a sign reading, “Curb your child,” she explained.
“They beautified the place; why can’t we keep it that way?” Russell stated.
According to some tenants, the park attracts more visitors than residents on certain days. “It’s okay if you want to come, but don’t monopolize,” Russell added.
“We love all children, but we treat everyone equally,” Beverly, another longtime resident, told The Post.
She once saw a homeowner tell a man that it was against the regulations to have his dog in the park.
“The man turned around and said, ‘Shut up, you bitch,'” Beverly recalled.
Sources claim that there were two police summonses to the scene due to a quarrel, but no arrests took place. The NYPD could not provide specifics about the occurrences.
On May 24, before the official signs got up, someone taped the gate shut and put flyers that read “This park is for Wise Tower residents only” and “This is not a public park.”
Though there has been some debate about whether the park is public, the residents appear to be within their rights to restrict entry. According to officials, the playground does not fall within the jurisdiction of the city parks department.
“NYCHA campuses are private property,” a representative for the authority told The Post, adding that Wise Towers residents are concerned about playground access and the new equipment’s condition.
“We support Wise Towers’ residents and their desire to restrict use of the space to residents of the development and the property manager’s signage to notify non-inhabitants that the courtyard is not a public space,” he stated.
However, in a May 28 email obtained by the site, the school announced that it would no longer use the grounds.
“We are suspending our recess play there for the time being,” wrote principal Kristin Crawford. “I suggest families also suspend playing there after school and over the weekends.”
Parents also reported that B’nai Jeshurun, an Upper West Side Hebrew school, had to cease operations.
Saddened students wrote letters to the board, pleading to play in the park.
“Everyone is just surprised and devastated,” said Upper West Side mother Mira G.
“It was kids from everywhere,” she added. “This is Manhattan. We integrate and play together. It makes no difference what school they attend, where they reside, or their religion or race.
“I understand both sides, but I would hate to see this place closed off to the community,” said David Owens, a father of two who lives nearby and has been visiting the park for over 50 years. “You want to bring the community together — playgrounds are what do that.”
