A new playground at Tenean Beach should be completed by the spring, state officials said this week, refreshing a local gathering area on the banks of Dorchester Bay.

The $350,000 fully accessible playground is an ongoing Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) project that kicked off at an event on Friday.  

Hot dipped galvanized steel play equipment — built to resist rust and deterioration — will sit on higher ground at the site when the project is completed.

The latest play area at Tenean will replace the existing Barbara Colby Playground, which was built by the Metropolitan District Commission in 1985 and renovated in 2005. Because of the playground’s lowland placement, the site has been vulnerable to flooding and resulting damage to the equipment.

Two additional universally accessible parking spaces are also going to be added to the nearby parking area, bringing the lot up to ADA compliance, the state said.

“Thank you to the DCR for their continued commitment to improving Dorchester’s parks and green space areas,” said state Rep. Dan Hunt in a statement. “With its convenient location along Dorchester’s waterfront area, Tenean Beach is one of Dorchester’s own hidden gems. The community has been trying to activate the area in the recent years with beach cleanups and family fun days. A new and improved playground, accessible to all, will bring great public benefit to the neighborhood”.

Tenean Beach is also at the edge of a still-to-come leg of the Neponset River Greenway project. Mayor Martin Walsh highlighted the need to complete the Greenway leg in a speech before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce last week.

“The Neponset River Trail starts in Mattapan,” he said. “We want to complete its connection to the Harbor Walk, from Tenean Beach to Victory Road Park.”

State Sen. Nick Collins also thanked the state’s DCR for the investment. He and the department credited Gov. Baker’s administration for continued investment in state recreational space.

“The construction of a new playground at Tenean Beach represents our state’s commitment to supporting healthy lifestyles for families and young people,” Collins said. “This investment will benefit visitors and residents for years to come.”