“Ever heard of a park named after multiple Peters?” That’s the curious case of Peters Field. This unassuming park sits between First and Second Avenue and East 20th and 21st Streets. It’s a green space with a story that stretches back to New Amsterdam.
Peters Field’s name is a playful tribute to two prominent figures. The first is Petrus Stuyvesant. He was the Dutch director-general of New Netherland. His sprawling farm once covered this very ground. It was called Petersfield. Stuyvesant’s influence is all over this area. Think of Stuyvesant Town and Stuyvesant High School.
The second Peter is Peter Cooper. He was a Kips Bay glue manufacturer. Cooper founded Cooper Union in 1859. He’s also the namesake of Peter Cooper Village.
But Peters Field doesn’t stop there. Look closely and you’ll find concrete plaques on the Second Avenue side. These plaques honor fictional Peters. Peter Rabbit, Peter Pan, Peter Piper, and Peter Parker are all recognized here. It’s a whimsical touch. It connects history with popular culture.
The story of Peters Field also connects to a building. It’s located at 113-119 Fourth Avenue. This building was completed in 1906. It had two names. The Fish Building and The Petersfield. Stuyvesant Fish built it. He named it after his father Hamilton Fish.
In 1986, the Fish Loft Building became the Petersfield Condominiums. The name was chosen because of Petrus Stuyvesant. He was the great-grandson of the colonial Governor-Director Peter Stuyvesant. His farm extended to what is now 4th Avenue.
Stuyvesant built a home for his daughter Elizabeth. It was located at 21 Stuyvesant Street. She married Nicolas Fish. Their son was Hamilton Fish. He had a son named Stuyvesant Fish. Stuyvesant built the Fish building on his grandmother’s great-great-grandfather Peter Stuyvesant’s land.
So Peters Field is more than just a park. It’s a crossroads of history. It is a celebration of namesakes. It’s a place where fact and fiction intertwine. Next time you are near Peters Field. Take a moment to appreciate its layered story. Remember the Peters of the past and present.