Sara Delano Roosevelt Park

Western side of the park

South end soccer field

Sara Delano Roosevelt Park is a 7.8-acre (32,000 m²) park in the Lower East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The park, named after Sara Roosevelt (1854–1941), the mother of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, stretches north-south along seven blocks between East Houston Street on the Lower East Side and Canal Street in Chinatown, bordered by Chrystie Street on the west and Forsyth Street on the east. The park is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park cuts off Stanton, Rivington, Broome and Hester Streets between Chrystie and Forsyth Streets, and is crossed by Delancey and Grand Streets.

The land was originally acquired by the City of New York in 1929 for the purpose of widening Chrystie and Forsythe Streets and building low-cost housing, but was instead used for parkland. The new park was named for Sara Roosevelt in 1934 despite her written objection.

Attractions

The park offers playing surfaces for several sports, including a basketball court, roller skating rink and a soccer field.

The first "Lower East Side Reunion" for residents of Forsyth, Eldridge, Allen, and Rivington Streets took place in the park in July 2013.

Memorials

In the park, just south of Stanton Street, the M’Finda Kalunga Garden honors the memory of an African-American burial ground that was located on nearby Chrystie Street between Rivington and Stanton Streets. A commemorative plaque was installed in 1983.

Across Forsyth Street from Sara D. Roosevelt Park, between Stanton and Rivington Streets, was the "Garden of Eden", a community garden during 1975–1985 created by local activist and environmentalist Adam Purple.

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Sara D Roosevelt Park information at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Website.