Samuel Seabury Playground, entrance located on Lexington between 95th and 96th, is a popular public space for residents and their children. Next to PS 77, the 6 train, residential buildings, and some retail it is a highly trafficked place for the neighborhood’s children, the elderly, and adults looking for a place to sit and enjoy the bustle.
Samuel Seabury Playground is a heavily used playground with two small play sets, a swing set, a tire swing, benches as far as the eye can see, two game tables, a map of the world, a basketball court, a bathroom, and trees and other greenery. I visited the park on Saturday March 25th and Wednesday March 29th.
Map of Samuel Seabury Playground
On March 25th at 11:30 I walked into the park. There were tens of children with their parents and a few with caretakers. Most of the children were elementary school aged. These families were centered around the two play sets and the swings with a few playing ball in the basketball, court. While the children played on the play sets, parents made use of the benches. There were a few middle school aged children who went on the swings for a few minutes or sat on the benches by the map of the world, but left soon after arriving. An elderly woman and her caregiver sat for 25 minutes on a bench in the center of the playground. A parks department worker alternatively sat on a bench by the game table or walked around the playground. Two men sat down at one of the game tables to eat halal. Next to them, a middle aged woman sat at a game table listening to music. She greeted two teenage boys who came to the playground to play basketball. Around four men used the bathroom and left. There were many people coming in and leaving the playground and almost every square foot was in use. Even the street outside the playground was occupied by two girls who set up a girl scout cookie stand and others leaning on the fence and talking.
Map of playground use by park goers Saturday March 25th
On March 29th at 12:30, there were significantly fewer elementary school aged children. The few children that were there were very young and accompanied mostly by nannies. There were more adults, many on lunch break, who sat down at the game tables and when the game tables were occupied, at the benches by the map. There were a couple of young people who stopped by the entrance of the playground and when they saw the tables taken, left. A couple of people played a game of basketball and left after about ten minutes. There were no parks department workers present. A few men entered the park to use the bathroom. There were fewer people overall and the people who were there stayed a shorter amount of time. The general clustering of children on the play sets and swings with their caregivers in groups at the benches nearest the children was much the same as on the first visit.
Map of playground use by park goers Wednesday March 29th
An issue I noticed was the lack of tables to suit the needs of the park goers. There were many benches in the playground, but only two tables. People preferred tables when trying to find a place to eat and even when not eating as a place to spread out belongings or sit around with friends. The area of the playground with the world map and benches was used sparingly and would be much better put to use with the addition of tables and chairs. The removal of the moat surrounding that area would also be a positive change as the dried up fracture crumbling around the edges caused many a child to trip and fall.
By Samantha Manners
