Cooper Park (Brooklyn) facts for kids
Cooper Park is a fun urban park located in Brooklyn, New York. You can find it in the East Williamsburg neighborhood, surrounded by Maspeth Avenue, Sharon Street, Olive Street, and Morgan Avenue. This park opened in 1895 and covers about 6.40 acres, which is a good size for outdoor activities.
Before it became a park, this spot was home to a glue factory. This factory was owned by an American businessman named Peter Cooper. He started his glue business in Manhattan in 1821. Later, in 1838, he moved his factory to Maspeth Avenue in Brooklyn. Peter Cooper retired from the glue business in 1865. His family then took over the factory. In 1895, Cooper's family sold the factory site to the City of Brooklyn for $55,000. The city then cleared the land and created Cooper Park for everyone to enjoy.
Today, Cooper Park offers many cool features. It has a special area for dogs called a dog run. There's also the Carnegie Playground, which is great for kids. If you like sports, you'll find two basketball courts, four handball courts, two tennis courts, and two volleyball courts. There's even a skate park! The park also has public bathrooms and a spray shower for hot days.
Contents
The Story of Cooper Park
How the Park Began
The land where Cooper Park now stands has an interesting past. In 1821, a man named Peter Cooper bought a glue factory in Manhattan. He wanted to make really good glue products. In 1838, he moved his factory to Maspeth Avenue in Brooklyn. This was a smart move because the location was close to roads. These roads connected to ferries that went to New York City. They also led to farms on Long Island.
Peter Cooper retired from his glue business in 1865. He sold the factory to his family members. In 1878, the factory moved again to Smith Island. Eventually, it left Brooklyn completely in the 1900s. In 1895, Peter Cooper's family sold the old glue factory site on Maspeth Avenue. They sold it to the City of Brooklyn for $55,000. After that, the city cleared the land. This is how Cooper Park was created for the community.
Early Years of the Park
When Cooper Park first opened in 1898, it needed some help. The soil wasn't very rich. So, the city made a plan to bring in a lot of new soil. They added one thousand cubic yards of soil to help the plants grow. Also, the park's paths were updated. They used to be made of cinder and gravel. But in 1898, they were repaved with asphalt tiles. This made the paths much smoother for walking and playing.
Cooper Park in the 1900s
In 1906, the City of New York started building a shelter house in Cooper Park. They hired a company called L. E. Brown to do the construction work. They also hired Dodge & Morrison for their building design ideas.
Later, in 1920, Cooper Park got some important upgrades. Workers repaired the plumbing system, which helps with water flow. They also fixed the electrical system and the irrigation systems. Irrigation systems are important for watering the park's plants. In that same year, the park's value was estimated to be $140,000.
Cooper Park Today
In November 2017, a group of people from Brooklyn started a new organization. They called themselves the "Friends of Cooper Park." This group works together to come up with ideas to help the park. Their main goals are to keep the park clean and to help with the park's landscaping. They want to make sure Cooper Park stays a beautiful place for everyone.
Where is Cooper Park?
Cooper Park covers 6.40 acres in the northern part of Brooklyn. To the north of the park, you'll find the town of Greenpoint. To the east, there's a waterway called Newtown Creek. And to the west, you'll find the neighborhood of Williamsburg. Right next to the park, there's a group of buildings called Cooper Park Houses. These are affordable housing homes owned by the New York City Housing Authority.
Fun Things to Do
Cooper Park has many different recreation areas that are open to everyone. You can find two basketball courts, four handball courts, two tennis courts, and two volleyball courts. There's also a playground and a skate park for different kinds of fun.
Basketball Courts
If you want to use the basketball courts at Cooper Park, you might need a permit. If you are under 18 years old, you can get a permit for free. But if you are 18 or older, you need to buy one. Also, if you want to organize a league or a special event, you will need to buy a permit too.
Tennis Courts
The tennis courts at Cooper Park also require a permit. Adults who are under 61 years old need to buy a seasonal permit for $100. But if you are a senior citizen or a minor, you might get a discount. You can get permits and make reservations online, which makes it easy to plan your game.
Dog Run
The Cooper Park Dog Run is a big, fenced-in area. It's a perfect place for dogs to run and play without a leash. Dogs can exercise freely here during the park's open hours.
Carnegie Playground
The playground in Cooper Park is named Carnegie Playground. It was named after Margaret Carnegie Miller. This playground has usually been in good condition. The Parks Inspection Program (PIP) has checked it often over the past ten years. They usually report that it's a safe and fun place to play.
Who Manages the Park?
Cooper Park is managed by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. They are in charge of keeping the park clean, safe, and fun for everyone.
