Washington Heights in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Audubon Playground
What was here before?
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, this area was settled by the Weckquaesgeek. Broadway north of 168th street and St. Nicholas still follows the original Weckquaesgeek trail that connected lower Manhattan to Albany.
How did this site become a playground?
The City of New York acquired this site by condemnation in 1958, and the playground, jointly operated by the Board of Education (now the Department of Education) and NYC Parks, opened in 1962. Originally named P.S. 128 Playground after the adjacent school, it was renamed in 1986 to reflect the school's new name.
This site is part of NYC Parks' Community Parks Initiative, a multi-faceted program to invest in under-resourced public parks and increase the accessibility of quality of parks throughout the five boroughs.
In 2020, the playground underwent a full reconstruction that updated existing play areas, synthetic turf, a misting station, and a bird house.
Who is this playground named for?
The playground, school, and avenue are all named for John James Audubon (1785-1851) who was known for his illustration of birds and the book Birds of America. The Audubon Society, one of the oldest and largest conservation groups in the world, was founded in his honor in 1905.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.
Location. 40° 50.481′ N, 73° 56.275′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Washington Heights. It is on Audubon Avenue just north of West 169th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17 Audubon Avenue, New York NY 10032, 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: Washington Heights-Inwood War Memorial (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Maj. John Purroy Mitchel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Hilltop Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Listen With Me," 2021 (approx. Ό mile away); Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); United Palace (approx. 0.4 miles away); The High Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jumel Terrace Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 25, 2023
3. Audubon Playground Marker
This is a photo of the marker in its prior environs.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 1, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 1, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on July 1, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
