P.S. 29 Playground Fire Ruled Suspicious: FDNY

The in the schoolyard has been deemed "suspicious" by the FDNY.

Fire Marshalls are still investigating, said a fire department spokesperson.

Meanwhile, at the school on Thursday Principal Melanie Raneri Woods said she intends to keep the playground open to all members of the community.

"If it [the yard] was closed to the public, it would be disastrous," said Woods. "I would not have this any other way. It's a community schoolyard."

The fire was started over the weekend, when the entire yard is open to the public.

Woods said the school is going to look at its safety protocols, and is even considering putting in cameras.

"We clearly need to make sure we're reviewing our security," she said.

About half of the playground equipment needs to be replaced and the cost will be covered by the School Construction Authority and the non-profit group Out2Play, that helped the school build the playground, said Woods.

She expects in 6-8 weeks the children will be back out on the playground equipment, but for now, the area is closed. Brighter lighting is being installed, and the entrance is blocked off by a police barricade.

Despite the fire, Woods expressed some positivity.

"The good news is, we are kicked into high gear," she said, adding that this has been a tough year for the P.S. 29. community.

"We're well trained," she said. "We have our muscles now. We're ready."

In January, former up to $100,000 from the parent group's coffers, and in March, news broke about how the school would begin reciting the , after parents requested the recitation be done every day, in accordance with state law. 

Woods said the children at the school are "incredibly resilient."

"It's heartbreaking for the kids," she said. But "they were so excited when we said it was getting fixed."