Seward Park brings three 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 hustle of the town. The park, named after New York Senator William Henry Seward (1801-1872), was the very first municipally controlled playground in the United States and a model for many others. With a rich 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 arranged games to public playgrounds. The ORL was pivotal in establishing playgrounds in municipal 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 innovations like recreation pavilion and gymnastic equipment, marble baths, and meeting rooms made it a model for future play areas across the country.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park went through a sequence of transformations. A portion of the park's east side was taken over by the New York City goverment and used for street purposes. In 1936, the park acquired the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The transformation was completed 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 surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by New York City. Many streets were closed and houses were built to replace apartment buildings.
The current history of Seward Park is suggested by a 1999 refurbishment that payed homage to the initial ORL plan. The park now includes 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 stunning curving trails, sports facilities, playgrounds, plenty of benches, Seward Park is still a favourite place for residents of the Big Apple and travelers alike to play.
In the late 1890s the Outdoor Recreation League (ORL) worked to bring arranged games to public playgrounds. The ORL was pivotal in establishing playgrounds in municipal 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 innovations like recreation pavilion and gymnastic equipment, marble baths, and meeting rooms made it a model for future play areas across the country.
The history of Seward Park continues in the 1930s and 1940s, when the park went through a sequence of transformations. A portion of the park's east side was taken over by the New York City goverment and used for street purposes. In 1936, the park acquired the Schiff fountain from Rutgers Park. The transformation was completed 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 surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood grew, another section of the park was redeveloped by New York City. Many streets were closed and houses were built to replace apartment buildings.
The current history of Seward Park is suggested by a 1999 refurbishment that payed homage to the initial ORL plan. The park now includes 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 stunning curving trails, sports facilities, playgrounds, plenty of benches, Seward Park is still a favourite place for residents of the Big Apple and travelers alike to play.
About the Author:
Jeff Myers has been interested in NYC Parks like Seward park for many years. Myers has written many articles about New York City parks, including the top most interesting facts and brief histories. For more information, please visit his site.
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