The improvements to Dorchester Avenue’s Ryan Playground took three years from the design phase to the construction fences coming down a few weeks ago, and cost $1.4 million.

The wait, and the money, seemed worth it to the shouting kids who crowded around as Mayor Wu and other elected officials cut the ribbon last Thursday (July 20).

The renovation produced a half-court for basketball can also be used for skateboarding and bike-riding, and a paved loop throughout the park that was requested by seniors.

Retiring Dorchester Councillor Frank Baker recalled a time when the site was mostly asphalt. Pointing to the northeast corner, he said he met his wife Today there in 1986.

What was once a concrete area now has a central lawn for picnics, and a renovated water spray deck. Playgrounds for children, ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, have also seen an overhaul, in addition to new swings.

Some of the ginkgo trees, installed during Mayor Ray Flynn’s administration, remain, though the city’s Parks Department has added more to help provide shade.

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Wu’s chief of environment, noted that she lives a few blocks away and considers Ryan Playground one of her neighborhood parks.

“This neighborhood is one of our heat zones in the city. We are one of the places where because of the level of asphalt and hard surface, we have higher temperatures than some other places,” she said. “The water feature is one that I’m really, really excited about.”

The Parks Department is investing in water features elsewhere in Boston, too, she added.

“Unfortunately, due to climate change, heat is going to be even more of a challenge for our city. We are committed to making our parks a place people can gather, meet their neighbors and get cooled down.”

Councillors at-Large Erin Murphy and Ruthzee Louijeune joined the ribbon-cutting, as teens played basketball behind them “We want to build a city where everyone has a park within a 10-to-15 minute walk,” Louijeune said on what was a sweltering Thursday. “The joy is so evident on people’s faces on a warm day like today.”