New York in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Play Street - Little Italy

By Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016

1. Play Street - Little Italy Marker

The marker shows three common street games - stickball, skelsie and jump rope

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

From the late 1940s to the 1980s, Mulberry Street from Prince to Houston streets in Little Italy often became a “play street” used by the neighborhood’s Italian American youth. Known as “Church Walk” due to the dominance of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and its cemetery wall, the street was a prime location for many street games. These included stickball, a game played with a bat and a pink rubber ball, a “spaldeen.” It is considered to be the most exciting street game ever played by New Yorkers.

Donated by Ciao, Little Italy The National Italian American Foundation 2011 Andrews Lefevre Studios

Erected by The National Italian American Foundation.

Location. 40° 43.424′ N, 73° 59.735′ W. Marker is in New York, New York, in New York County. Marker is on Mulberry Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral rectory. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 263 Mulberry Street, New York NY 10012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Neighborhood - Little Italy (here, next to this

Old St. Patrick's Cathedral rectory, 263 Mulberry Street image. Click for full size.

By Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016

2. Old St. Patrick's Cathedral rectory, 263 Mulberry Street

The marker is just visible behind the light stanchion on the left.

marker); “I Absolve You” (a few steps from this marker); St. John N. Neumann (within shouting distance of this marker); Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral (within shouting distance of this marker); Ancient Order of Hibernians (within shouting distance of this marker); Within These Grounds Are Buried The Pioneering Priests (within shouting distance of this marker); Sisters of Charity (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fourteenth Ward Industrial School of the Children’s Aid Society (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New York.

Categories. • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers • Sports •

Ancillary marker image. Click for full size.

By Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016

3. Ancillary marker

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Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2020. This page originally submitted on June 17, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 17, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.