By Michelle Gillan Larkin

If you’ve been hearing whoops and hollers coming from the Chappaqua area, it’s because the playground at Gedney Park is back in business after a complete and total makeover that began this past spring.

Every bit of the old, wooden equipment that tickled young visitors for years was carted away, and replaced with swings, slides, and climbing structures that are brand-spanking new. The layout remains the same — kinda nice for those wee creatures of habit — with four baby bucket swings to the far right, four big kid swings to the far left, and two jungle gyms smack dab in the middle. One is petite and compact for the tots, while the older kids have been gifted something that can only be described as sprawling, towering and GIGANTIC.

Despite its sheer size, this new model resembles the prior one (again, probably no accident), with a curvy tube slide and a long, downhill tube, side by side. However, in this incarnation the slides are unbelievably high and ridiculously fast. I know, because I had to try them. (I can only take so much joy on the face of my 6-year-old before I have to see what I’m missing.) I think I simultaneously uttered “yikes!” and “awesome!” aloud on the way down.

Just like before, the ground is comprised of a healthy layer of cushioning wood chips, and the trees that form a semi-circle around the play area offer cool spots of shade here and there. In addition, there’s still a working water fountain, a couple of picnic tables, and the restrooms are not too far off.

And, after junior has run himself silly, you’ve got 126-acres of parkland and forest just steps away for a stroll or an easy hike if energy abounds. That is, if you didn’t leave your stomach on the slide.

Gedney Park, Route 133, Chappaqua