History
Seward Park is a small early twentieth-century city park, bounded by Hester Street (demapped) on the north, Essex Street on the west, Canal Street and East Broadway on the south, and Jefferson (demapped) and Suffolk Streets on the East. The park includes the Jacob Schiff Memorial Fountain (damaged), recreation building (1939), comfort station (Aymar Embury, II, 1940), trees, paths, benches, iron fence, and playgrounds.
According to Joyce Mendelsohn in her book The Lower East Side Remembered & Revisited (2001), if was “created by the Outdoor Rec reation League, 1899; redesigned by the New York City Department of Parks, 1903, 1941, and 2001.”
Ms. Mendelsohn goes on to say:
“In the late 19th century, a group of social reformers–led by Lillian D. Wald, founder of Henry Street Settlement, and Charles B. Stover, Director of University Settlement–concerned with crowded tenements, congested streets and lack of public space, founded the Outdoor Recreation League. Between 1898 and 1902, the League lobbied the city for parkland and was successful in opening nine privately sponsored playgrounds in municipal parks. In 1897 rows and rows of decaying tenements–on the blocks from Canal Street and East Broadway to Grand Street between Essex and Jefferson Streets–were condemned and demolished for the creation of Seward Park. Although the city leveled and fenced the area, it was the Outdoor Recreation League that raised funds to plant grass and trees, lay out walking paths and supply benches. After the park opened in 1899 the League continued to provide equipment, personnel and other support until the city took over its administration in 1903.
“At that time, the northern section of the park was redesigned as a fully equipped playground, featuring play and gymnastic equipment–thus creating the first permanent, municipally built playground in the nation. A running track and open play area were installed in the center of the park, and a children’s farm garden was created in the southeast corner. The following year, in 1904, a pavilion was erected with a gym, meeting rooms and public baths–the first of four bathhouses to be opened in a New York City park. Demolished in 1936, the pavilion was replaced by a new recreation building in 1941 and the park was reconfigured for more active use. The new facilities featured courts for basketball, horseshoe-pitching and shuffleboard; new playgrounds; and a large paved area for roller skating and ice skating. The Schiff Fountain, which originally stood in Rutgers Square, was moved in 1936 to its present location on the western edge of the park between Canal and Hester Streets. Designed in 1895 by architect Arnold W. Brunner, and funded by a gift from German-Jewish philanthropist Jacob H. Schiff, it will be restored during current renovations of the park. [Note that this restoration has yet to occur.]
“The park was named for William Henry Seward, the Secretary of State who is best remembered for his purchase of Alaska in 1867. Closer to home, Seward was noteworthy for his support for immigrants–especially the Irish, who backed him for New York State Senator in the 1830s, Governor of New York in the 1840s and United States Senator in the 1850s. The current local community, largely Chinese, frequents Seward Park daily. Every morning, scores gather to perform the ancient practice of T’ai Chi before going off to work.”
The Parks Department has an excellent history page for Seward Park.