Alphabet City in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Tompkins Square Park
10.5 acres
The Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 proposed a large market on this land stretching from First Avenue to the East River, but plans for the market never materialized. Bordered today by Avenues A and B, and 7th and 10th Streets, Tompkins Square Park was acquired by the City in 1834. Originally swampland, this site was graded and landscaped between 1835 and 1850. In 1866, the New York State Legislature ordered the City to remove a number of trees that had been planted at the time of the park’s creation to allow for an open parade ground for the Seventh Regiment of New York. A few Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) trees were spared, and of those, three survived to the present day. Believed to be the oldest trees in the park, two of the Sycamores can be found along 10th Street and the other is located on Avenue A at 9th Street.
The New York State Legislature, bowing to pressure from city residents, redesignated the square as a public park in 1878, and it was redesigned the following year. Approximately 450 trees were planted and many of those remain in the park today. Species include Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), American elm (Ulmus Americana), and Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis).
The park is home to several monuments, including the Temperance Memorial Fountain (1888), the Samuel S. Cox monument (1891), the Slocum Memorial Fountain (1906), several memorial plaques, and the Ukrainian-American Flagstaff (1942), which was donated by the Ukrainian Production Unit of the American Red Cross. A playground for girls was built in 1904, and in 1911, 10,000 people came here to witness the City’s first inter-park athletic championships. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888–1981) expanded recreation opportunities in the park in the 1930s, adding handball courts and swing sets. A bandshell was completed in 1966 in time for frequent concerts and rallies, which characterized that period in history. Since its beginnings in the 19th century, Tompkins Square Park has served as a place to voice dissent. Demonstrations in 1857 and 1875 about the lack of jobs and the poor economy gave way to local residents’ protests about gentrification in the 1980s and 1990s. In the late 1980s, police and East Village residents clashed after Parks began enforcing the park’s closing hours, in effect barring homeless from camping in the park. In 1991 the park was closed and dozens of homeless people who had been living in the park were relocated.
The park was reconstructed and reopened in the summer of 1992. During this renovation, the bandshell was removed, a state-of-the-art dog run and new playgrounds were built, several monuments conserved, and the turf and sidewalks replaced. Today Tompkins Square Park continues to serve a diverse community, providing a peaceful, meditative environment within the bustle of city life.
City of New York Parks & Recreation
Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor
Henry J. Stern, Commissioner
December 2001
Erected by The park is listed in the "AIA (American Institute of Architects) Guide to New York City, Fifth Edition".
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #05 James Monroe, and the NYC Parks series lists.
Location. 40° 43.611′ N, 73° 58.89′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Alphabet City. Marker can be reached from the intersection of park path at St. Marks's Place and Avenue A, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ukrainian-American Flagstaff (a few steps from this marker); Slocum Memorial Fountain (a few steps from this marker); Harry Lloyd Hopkins (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); General Milan Stefanik (about 400 feet away); Charlie Parker Residence (about 400 feet away); Frank O'Hara (1926-1966) (about 500 feet away); Samuel Sullivan Cox (about 500 feet away); Joseph C. Sauer Park (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Regarding Tompkins Square Park. The park is listed in the "AIA (American Institute of Architects) Guide to New York City, Fifth Edition".
Also see . . . Tompkins Square Park. Official NYC Parks description. (Submitted on February 8, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 8, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7. submitted on February 9, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.