Seward Park brings three full acres of green space to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Situated north of East Broadway and east of Essex Street, the park offers visitors a shady relief to the hustle of the big city. The park, named after Big Apple Senator William Henry Seward (1801-1872), was one of the first municipally ran playground in the US and a model for many others. With an exciting history and plenty of room to play, Seward Park NY is probably one of the Lower East Side's treasures.
In the late 1890s the Outdoor Recreation League (ORL) worked to bring organised games to public playgrounds. The ORL was pivotal in creating playgrounds 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 the city. The ORL transformed the area into a playground, including a track for running and a children's garden. Opening on October 17, 1903, the park's other discoveries such as a recreation pavilion and gymnastic equipment, marble baths, and meeting rooms made it a model for future playing areas across the land.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park underwent a sequence of transformations. A part of the park's east side was taken over by the the city's government and utilized for street purposes. In 1936, the park bought the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The alteration was finished by the addition of horseshoe courts, a basketball court, more playgrounds and an area for roller and an ice skating rink.
The 1950s saw more transformations in Seward Park history. As the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by New York City. Many streets were closed and family homes were built to replace older apartment buildings.
The prevailing history of Seward Park is suggested by a 1999 renovation that payed homage to the initial 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 nearer to it's original 1903 appearance. With it's beautiful curving trails, plenty of benches, sports facilities, playgrounds, Seward Park is still a fave place for New Yorkers and travelers alike to play.
In the late 1890s the Outdoor Recreation League (ORL) worked to bring organised games to public playgrounds. The ORL was pivotal in creating playgrounds 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 the city. The ORL transformed the area into a playground, including a track for running and a children's garden. Opening on October 17, 1903, the park's other discoveries such as a recreation pavilion and gymnastic equipment, marble baths, and meeting rooms made it a model for future playing areas across the land.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park underwent a sequence of transformations. A part of the park's east side was taken over by the the city's government and utilized for street purposes. In 1936, the park bought the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The alteration was finished by the addition of horseshoe courts, a basketball court, more playgrounds and an area for roller and an ice skating rink.
The 1950s saw more transformations in Seward Park history. As the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by New York City. Many streets were closed and family homes were built to replace older apartment buildings.
The prevailing history of Seward Park is suggested by a 1999 renovation that payed homage to the initial 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 nearer to it's original 1903 appearance. With it's beautiful curving trails, plenty of benches, sports facilities, playgrounds, Seward Park is still a fave place for New Yorkers and travelers alike to play.
About the Author:
Jeff Myers has been interested in Parks in New York City 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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