Projects: Parks & Open Spaces
Seward Park
Seward Park Housing Corporation
New York City, NY
Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Seward Park was the first playground established in New York City in 1903. It is named after William H. Seward, who was appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, negotiated the purchase of Alaska in 1867, and served as Governor of New York and as a U.S. Senator.
Seward Park is adjacent to Seward Park Housing Corporation (SPHC), a 4 building complex which manages the13 acre property as well as the 3 ½ acre park Seward Park. Let It Grow, Inc. was contracted by SPHC for park renovations.
Let It Grow’s scope of work included installing gravel, topsoil, cedar mulch, planters, plants and sod. A new irrigation system was put in as well.
There is a new center oval with a large spray shower and marble mosaic map of the neighborhood. The various quotations by historic local residents were provided by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Other revivals of the park’s original appearance include fencing modeled after the historic fences, as well as period lighting and site furniture.
The renovations were completed in 2002.
Once the pride of the city, Dahnert’s Lake County Park in Garfield, NJ had fallen into disrepair during the past decade. The lake was unusable for years because of contamination and the park finally closed due to neglect.
