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

Play Street - Little Italy

Photographed 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. 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.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • Sports.

Location. 40° 43.424′ N, 73° 59.735′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Nolita. It is on Mulberry Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral

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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.

Regionally, this marker is in New York City.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Neighborhood - Little Italy (here, next to this 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); Lautentius Da Ponte (within shouting distance of this marker); Sisters of Charity (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map

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

Photographed 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.

of all markers in Manhattan.

Also see . . . Old St. Patrick's Rectory -- No. 263 Mulberry Street. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Ancillary marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, July 25, 2016

3. Ancillary marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,097 times since then and 44 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.