McCaffrey Playground

Clutching your MetroCard, imagine stepping off the bustling 8th Avenue and into the tranquility of McCaffrey Playground. McCaffrey Playground is a surprising oasis amidst the urban clamor of Times Square. This “vest-pocket” park, a brainchild of Robert Moses, sprung up in the 1930s as part of his initiative to create small green spaces throughout the city. McCaffrey Playground is named after Monsignor Joseph A. McCaffrey. He was a pastor of the nearby Church of the Holy Cross and a chaplain for the NYPD. He was known for convincing Mayor LaGuardia to shut down many of the neighborhood’s burlesque clubs. Ironically, McCaffrey Playground sits just a stone’s throw from where the last concentration of adult entertainment stores in Midtown once thrived. The playground itself underwent a transformation in 2001. Now children splash in a water fountain play area and swing to their hearts’ content. A basketball court echoes with the sounds of friendly competition. A small brick “comfort station,” originally built by Moses, now serves as storage and restrooms. But as dusk settles and the playground gates close, another population emerges. Rats scurry about, and police sweep the area for loiterers. Before it was McCaffrey Playground, this land was part of a sprawling 80-acre estate known as the Hermitage. Owned by the Hooper family for generations, it was eventually sold to lawyer John George Leake in 1786. The estate, complete with a Georgian-style mansion, stretched all the way from the Hudson River to what is now Broadway. Today, McCaffrey Playground stands as a testament to the ever-changing landscape of New York City. It’s a place where history, recreation, and urban grit collide, offering a unique glimpse into the city’s complex tapestry.