Seward Park brings three full acres of green space to Manhattan's Lower East Side. Found north of East Broadway and east of Essex Street, the park offers visitors a shady relief to the bustle of the big city. The park, named after Big Apple Senator William Henry Seward (1801-1872), was one of the first publically ran playground in the U.S. and a model for many others. With an opulent past and plenty of room to play, Seward Park New York is probably one of the Lower East Side's treasures.
In the later 1890s the Outdoor Recreation League (ORL) worked to bring organized games to public play areas. The ORL played an important role in establishing play areas in community parks and is necessary to history of Seward Park.
In 1897, the land that would one day become Seward Park was obtained by New York City. The ORL transformed the area into a playground, including a children's garden and a track for running. Opening on October 17, 1903, the park's other inventions like marble baths, recreation pavilion and gymnastics equipment, and meeting rooms made it a model for future playgrounds across the country.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park underwent a collection of transformations. A little of the park's east side was taken over by the NYC governent and utilized for street purposes. In 1936, the park bought the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The evolution was finished by the addition of horseshoe courts, a basketball court, more playgrounds and an area for roller and ice skating.
The 1950s saw more transformations in Seward Park history. As the encompassing Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by the city of New York. Many streets were closed and homes were built to replace tenement buildings.
The current history of Seward Park is marked by a 1999 renovation that payed homage to the first ORL plan. The park now features a central oval with a spray shower and map of the Lower East Side, period lighting and furniture, and quotations from local residents spanning the neighborhood's rich history. These changes brought the park closer to it's original 1903 appearance. With it's attractive curving paths, sports facilities, plenty of benches, playgrounds, Seward Park is still a favorite place for New Yorkers and travelers alike to play.
In the later 1890s the Outdoor Recreation League (ORL) worked to bring organized games to public play areas. The ORL played an important role in establishing play areas in community parks and is necessary to history of Seward Park.
In 1897, the land that would one day become Seward Park was obtained by New York City. The ORL transformed the area into a playground, including a children's garden and a track for running. Opening on October 17, 1903, the park's other inventions like marble baths, recreation pavilion and gymnastics equipment, and meeting rooms made it a model for future playgrounds across the country.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park underwent a collection of transformations. A little of the park's east side was taken over by the NYC governent and utilized for street purposes. In 1936, the park bought the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The evolution was finished by the addition of horseshoe courts, a basketball court, more playgrounds and an area for roller and ice skating.
The 1950s saw more transformations in Seward Park history. As the encompassing Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by the city of New York. Many streets were closed and homes were built to replace tenement buildings.
The current history of Seward Park is marked by a 1999 renovation that payed homage to the first ORL plan. The park now features a central oval with a spray shower and map of the Lower East Side, period lighting and furniture, and quotations from local residents spanning the neighborhood's rich history. These changes brought the park closer to it's original 1903 appearance. With it's attractive curving paths, sports facilities, plenty of benches, playgrounds, Seward Park is still a favorite place for New Yorkers and travelers alike to play.
About the Author:
Jeff Myers has been interested in Parks in NYC like Seward park for many years. The author has written many articles about parks in New York City, including brief histories and top facts. For more information, please visit his site.
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