Murphy Brothers Playground

Did you ever hear of a park with an identity crisis? Murphy Brothers Playground, right here beside us, has gone by a few different names in its lifetime. First, it was the 17th Street Park in 1903. Then, it was known as both John J. Murphy Playground and Murphy Park. Now, it’s officially Murphy Brothers Playground. This little 1.27-acre plot of land, nestled near Manhattan’s old Gas House District, has a rich history tied to the city’s development. Originally acquired by New York City in 1857 and 1861, the western part of Murphy Brothers Playground was filled and improved by the Department of Docks and Ferries in 1893. After being transferred to the Department of Parks in 1903, it officially became a playground, complete with plantings and fencing. Fast forward to 1941. The old wooden pavilion and comfort station were demolished. Murphy Brothers Playground was completely redesigned, even gaining a little extra space due to the new East River Drive alignment. This renovation was a New Deal project, completed by the Works Progress Administration. Imagine the neighborhood kids finally having a place to play: swings, slides, see-saws, play houses, a sand pit, and even a shower basin. Older kids and adults weren’t left out. They got handball, basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard, paddle tennis and horseshoe pitching courts, plus game tables. New benches, shade trees, and a modern brick comfort station completed the upgrade. The park saw further improvements in the 1990s. Today, Murphy Brothers Playground continues to serve the community. It’s a testament to the city’s commitment to providing recreational spaces, evolving alongside the changing needs of its residents. The East Side Coastal Resiliency project will further enhance this vital green space. They plan to add new synthetic turf ballfields, a new dog run, and even a new power source for the Little League scoreboard, protecting it from future storms and sea level rise.