Between shopping centers and schools lie Poor Richard’s Playground, a public park in East Harlem most beloved by children and accompanying caregivers for its many playground facilities and easy access.
Located between 2nd and 3rd Avenue at 109th Street, Poor Richards Playground is a well-situated and well-equipped public park in the neighborhood of East Harlem. It is split into three main sections: the playground, the basketball courts, and a larger court area, which are all fenced off, and form a triangular-shaped space on one block. The playground situated at the north-most end includes two swing sets, a large play set, and two toddler-sized tables and chairs. There is also a bathroom, a spray shower, and three trash cans in the corners. Across the playground and the wide path dividing the sections are the basketball courts on the southwest end and the larger paved sport court to the southeast end. The facilities seem well-maintained with no major issues, only minor paint chipping on the play set and bathroom facility and some fading of the painted courts and water shower area.
The playground and trees in snow at Poor Richard’s Playground. Photo by Jenny Shin.
The bathroom facility (with paint chipping) and playground in snow at Poor Richard’s Playground. Photo by Jenny Shin.
Poor Richard’s Playground is centered in the middle of a busy area in East Harlem – to the west, 3rd Avenue is often busy with traffic, and small businesses (mostly food and clothing-oriented) line the blocks facing the park. The 6 train is mere minutes away on foot. To the north and east, four schools surround the park and because of their close proximity, school children make up a large population at the park. To the south, a multifamily co-op called Franklin Plaza sits adjacently, which also likely brings families to the park. With wide sidewalks surrounding all sides, the park itself is pretty quiet despite the traffic, and it is easier for pedestrians to casually walk in.
The north entrance of the park, adjacent to the sidewalk, parking lot, and nearby schools. Photo by Jenny Shin.
My observations of Poor Richard’s Playground were made on Friday, March 17th, beginning at 5:00 PM and on Sunday, March 26th at 12:40 PM. On the first day, at 45 degrees, the day was chilly, but quite sunny, so there were enough people in the park to fill the playground comfortably, despite the ground being completely covered with snow. The majority of people at the park were children who played on the playground or in the snow, along with their accompanying parents or caregivers, usually staying for around 20 minutes or so. The children would often play with each other, even if they had arrived separately. At about 44 minutes in, a few children even engaged in a small snowball fight. Other park-goers included mostly lone men, sitting on the benches and reading, or people walking through the park, along the shoveled path. Many were people of color, reflecting the diverse neighborhood. The peak concentration of people during my observation was 14 people, and among them 7 were children. Other than the playground, no one was in the other sections, as they were all covered with snow. However, on the second day it was colder and cloudier, but with no snow on the ground, several people were playing basketball on the courts. Yet there were also less children on the playground than my previous visit, likely due to it being near lunchtime and the possibility of rain, as it had rained only a few hours earlier. The peak concentration of people on this day was 8 people. Most likely when the weather gets warmer in spring and summer, more people will use the sports facilities, but currently, the east section seems to have closed gates, blocking park-goers from going in, and the cold weather seems to keep people’s visits short.
Diagram of People [Friday, March 17th]
Diagram of People [Sunday, March 26th]
Features of Poor Richard’s Playground
Overall, the park seems well-liked, especially by children, so no major improvements need to be made. The only suggestions I would make would be to repaint certain areas of the courts and facilities, and add some grassy areas in the park, as it is all covered with asphalt. Since there are so many children going to Poor Richard’s, parents might feel more comforted if they fell on soft grass as opposed to hard asphalt. There is also a longer section at the southeast end that seems to be much less used, probably due to its unusual shape. This area could be used as a community garden, perhaps maintained by the many schools in the area, and teach children about living sustainably while also bringing more green space to the park itself.
The spray shower and fading paint on the asphalt at Poor Richard’s Playground. Photo by Jenny Shin.
The play set at Poor Richard’s Playground. Photo by Jenny Shin.
By Jenny Shin
