Heckscher Park Unveils Bright, Inclusive Playground Space
Heckscher Park, is a cherished local landmark and part of a designated national historic district. Spanning approximately 18 acres in a roughly triangular shape, the park features a scenic pond in its northwest corner, the renowned Heckscher Museum of Art—founded by industrialist August Heckscher—and the Chapin Rainbow Theater. Most recently, it became home to a newly designed 15,000 sq. ft. ADA-compliant playground, offering a fun, accessible environment for children of all ages and abilities.
In late winter/early spring, the Town of Huntington broke ground on what had long been a dream of the Sheryl Steinberg Collins Foundation, whose generous donation helped bring the project to life. The result is a vibrant, inclusive, and safe playground where families can gather, play, and connect. The main color theme—orange—was chosen by Mr. Steinberg to honor the favorite color of his late wife and their daughter, creating a personal and heartfelt connection to the space.
Engineered for Accessibility and Longevity
The playground’s surface sits on a recessed, compacted stone base, allowing Unity’s rubber safety tiles to installed flush with the surrounding stamped concrete walkways. This design feature provides seamless ADA accessibility from all four sides of the playground, ensuring wheelchair users can enter and exit the area freely and safely…anywhere.
To enhance durability and long-term performance, a custom-designed Fabric/Mesh Sandwich System was installed between the stone base and tile layer. This system incorporates a plastic grid encased in filter fabric, providing both stability and proper drainage, ensuring the surface remains solid and secure for years to come.
Moving Beyond Pour-In-Place: A Smarter Surfacing Solution
To replace the aging poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surface, the Town selected Unity’s interlocking rectangle play tiles, favoring their patented “Step and Repeat” Installation Method. This technique locks tiles together by aligning real seams with faux seams, increasing overall integrity and visual appeal.
Performance testing further supported the decision: Unity’s new “Skin-Top” tiles outperformed traditional EPDM tiles 2-to-1, pigmented tiles 3-to-1, and PIP systems 4-to-1. Given that the playground sees more than 100,000 visitors annually, durability was a top priority—and Unity delivered.
Designed with Color, Community, and Climate in Mind
Unity worked closely with town officials and community members during the design process to select a tile color blend that would enhance both function and aesthetic. Because the playground area is exposed to sunlight for most of the day, a light grey base was chosen to help reflect heat. Accents of orange and lime green, along with a touch of black to hide dirt and scuffs, completed the primary blend:
75% Light Grey, 10% Orange, 10% Lime Green, and 5% Black.
After reviewing the design, community members requested an additional "pop" of color to break up the uniformity of the surface. Unity responded by introducing a secondary “half-tile” blend using bolder tones, including a second shade of orange known as “Mellow Melon.” This dynamic blend—35% Orange, 30% Mellow Melon, 25% Lime Green, and 10% Black—was added sporadically throughout the play area, offering a playful contrast and visual excitement.
A Legacy of Play and Inclusion
The new playground at Heckscher Park is more than just a play space—it’s a symbol of community collaboration, thoughtful design, and inclusive values. Thanks to the vision of the Sheryl Steinberg Collins Foundation and the commitment of the Town of Huntington, this bright, beautiful, and resilient playground is now a centerpiece of joy and accessibility for generations to come.