Hamilton Fish Park Play Center

History and architecture

The Hamilton Fish Park Play Center is among the most notable small civic buildings in New York City. Designed in 1898 by Carrere & Hastings, one of America's foremost architectural firms at the turn of the century, this park pavilion is as exuberant Beaux-Arts style building that is the only survivor of the architects' original playground plan. Beautiful in its own right, the building is even more exceptional when considered in relation to its surroundings.

Hamilton Fish Park is located in an area that, for over 100 years, has been one of New York City's most depressed neighborhoods. In fact, the park was constructed as part of a movement to add open space to the densely populated slums of the city. The building was not planned simply as a utilitarian structure, but was designed in the manner of a small garden pavilion placed within a formal park. It was hoped that this sophisticated design would have a positive effect on the area's immigrant population, lowering the crime rate and improving the respect of the residents for the law and for America in general.