STONE HARBOR – Borough Engineer Marc DeBlasio, in response to a request from Mayor Tim Carney for an update on the 97th Street playground renovation, said the play area will definitely be ready for the summer season.

The popular playground area had all of its equipment removed last year due to salt air damage and safety concerns.

DeBlasio said the colder weather this off-season constrained the ability of the contractor to put in the safety covering for the new playground, but work progresses on the installation of the playground equipment. With warmer weather, work can progress on the ground cover, he said.

Plans also call for widening the basketball court to regulation size, to be completed by summer as well.

The demolition of an existing facility and construction of a new storage building with public restrooms will wait until the fall.

The borough is also planning an all-inclusive playground modeled on Jake’s Place for 80th Street, where play equipment at a second, older facility was removed after becoming a safety risk, like 97th Street’s.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.