24 Sycamores Playground

24 Sycamores Playground. .622 acre. , The name “24 Sycamores” is a protective measure, letting prospective developers know that the trees have been carefully counted, and their destruction will not go undetected. The 24 Sycamores Playground is located at York Avenue, between East 60th and 61st Streets. The site consists of land formerly underwater and property once owned by the Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony). In 1943 Parks Commissioner Robert Moses suggested that the land be transferred to the Parks Department because the area was lacking "active recreation facilities." The majority of the property (.525 acre) was surrendered by the Commissioner of Marine and Aviation and transferred to Parks on March 11, 1943. The remaining piece of the property (.097 acre) was bought by Parks from Socony on August 13, 1943., The playground was built in the mid-1940s. It cost $45,000 and included an open area for roller skating, a pipe frame exercise unit, a slide, a sand pit, seesaws, swings, and a shower basin at the north end of the park. In addition, a handball court and a comfort station were built. Both of these features remain today. In the spring of 1975 a portion of the playground was closed to the public due to the construction of the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tramway Tower #2., Until 1985 the playground was unnamed. But when a real estate developer sought to raze the site as part of a highrise building project, the playground was given its present name by Commissioner Henry J. Stern to ward off encroaching developers lest they cause any number of trees to disappear. In July of 1992 the Friends of 24 Sycamores group was formed to advocate the reconstruction of the playground. They initiated a campaign that included fundraising and work on a new layout for the playground. In1995, the existing handball courts were reconstructed, basketball courts were added, new play equipment was installed, a spray shower was built, and new drinking fountains and benches were added. Seating areas were redesigned, and the site was made accessible for the handicapped. Over time, a sinkhole formed at the site, a result of the landfill, which was later filled and the land stabilized. Although two new sycamore trees were planted raising the number to 26, the name of the playground has remained the same., City of New York Parks and Recreation , Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor , Adrian Benepe, Commissioner , Text Written: January 2004