Northern Playground

Tucked between 93rd Street and Northern Boulevard sits Northern Playground. It’s a place echoing with the laughter of generations, a testament to a city’s commitment to its children. Northern Playground isn’t just named after the bustling boulevard beside it. It carries a whisper of another name, a ghost of the past. The boulevard was once Jackson Avenue, named after John C. Jackson, a key figure in the area’s development. He was the president of the Hunter’s Point, Newtown and Flushing Turnpike Company, responsible for building the road in the 1860s. The name changed in 1921 to Northern Boulevard, reflecting its location on the north shore of Queens. But the name Jackson lived on in the surrounding neighborhood of Jackson Heights, a nod to both the old avenue and the elevated terrain within the area. Northern Playground itself has worn a few names. Originally, it was P.S. 149 Playground due to its link with the neighboring school. In 1985, it was briefly 93rd Street Playground before finally becoming Northern Playground in 1986. The city acquired the land for the Board of Education in 1951. It was then passed to the Parks Department in 1952. From the start, it was a joint effort, co-managed by both the Board of Education and the Parks Department. When it opened in 1960, it was a child’s paradise. It boasted a roller-skating area, a baseball field, courts for basketball, handball, volleyball, paddle tennis, and shuffleboard. There were slides, swings, seesaws, gymnastic equipment, a sandpit, checkerboard tables, gardens, and even a comfort station. Northern Playground is more than just slides and swings. It’s a living piece of New York City history. It reflects the evolution of the city’s commitment to its children. From its multiple names to its shared management, Northern Playground is a unique space where education and recreation intertwine.