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This playground is bounded by East 81st and 82nd Streets, Avenue J, and Flatlands Avenue. It stands near Intermediate School 68, also known as the Bildersee School. Both the playground and school are named for Issac Bildersee (1887-1952), the controversial assistant superintendent of Brooklyn public schools during the 1940s. Born and bred in New York City, Dr. Bildersee came from Read more...
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Though originally intended to serve as a resort area, Bergen Beach maintains much of the serenity and natural beauty experienced by Native Americans and early European settlers. Read more...
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This playground honors Egbert Benson (1746-1833), an attorney and statesman who contributed his name to the neighborhood of Bensonhurst. After graduating from King’s College (the original name of Columbia University) in 1765, Benson began his political career as an outspoken Revolutionary War patriot who went on to become New York State’s first post-independence Attorney General in 1777. As a delegate Read more...
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Located on the southeast corner of Bedford Avenue and South 9th Street, this playground takes its name from the avenue running along its west side. The term Bedford has three possible origins. English settlers may have used the name in tribute to the Duke of Bedford, or for Bedfordshire County in England. Since the area was first settled by the Read more...
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The neighborhood of Bath Beach is named for the town of Bath, England, home to an impressive complex of Roman baths. The Romans founded the town in the 1st century A.D., and named it Aquae Sulfis – “Hot Springs” – because they found hot springs naturally occurring there. The Romans ascribed medicinal effects to the springs and built baths around Read more...
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This site, at the intersection of Prospect Park West and Prospect Park Southwest, was named by the Board of Aldermen on April 10, 1923 after two young Brooklyn natives, Emil Bartel (1895-1918) and William Pritchard. Bartel and Pritchard both died in combat in France during World War I (1914-1918). Bartel resided nearby at 251 Windsor Place and Pritchard lived at Read more...
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Banneker Playground is named in honor of Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a noted African-American writer and mathematician. Born a free man in Maryland, Banneker worked much of his life on the family farm. By the age of twenty-two, Banneker had become known for occupying himself with mathematical puzzles, and he had already built an accurate clock entirely of carved wooden parts. Read more...
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Nicholas A. Brizzi (1918-1982) was an outstanding activist in this community and a decorated veteran of World War II. Born and raised in Borough Park, he served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre and was twice cited for bravery. After the war, he attended Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and then returned to Borough Park. He joined Read more...
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This playground honors Simon Boerum (1724-1775), whose family farm occupied the surrounding area in the 18th century. Boerum not only held large amounts of land, but also served as a delegate to the Continental Congress of New York State. The homes that characterize Boerum Hill were built at a time when the emerging and growing middle class was searching for Read more...
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This park is named for Betsy Head (1851-1907), a British immigrant who became a wealthy widow. Mrs. Head left the City of New York a bequest of $190,000 to build recreational facilities. She stipulated in her will that half of her residual estate should be given to sixteen charities, many of which were dedicated to the welfare of children, and Read more...
