Others in attendance included county Legislator John Testa and Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster.
Designed by the county's Department of Planning, the playground opened on Memorial Day weekend. It is located across from Bohlman Towers, a Peekskill Housing Authority apartment building, and the Kiley Youth Center. The parks serves nearly 2,000 neighborhood children under the age of 17.
The playground is compliant with the federal Americans with Disability Act. The improvements were funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $273,570 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (part of the economic stimulus program) and $92,438 from the city. Some of the ADA-conforming features include swing seats designed to accommodate children with mobility issues, wheelchair accessible chess tables and benches, and an accessible drinking fountain.
"This playground provides a safe and fun place for residents of the area. There is something for kids of all ages: updated playground equipment for toddlers as well as older children and a newly improved basketball court," said Astorino.
The Lepore Park playground serves an area of which 77 percent of the population is at low- and moderate- income levels.