Robert Moses Playground facts for kids
Robert Moses Playground is a fun park and playground in Manhattan, New York City. It's about 1.3 acres big, which is like a little over one football field. You can find it in the Murray Hill area, right on First Avenue between 41st and 42nd streets. It's super close to the United Nations building.
The park is named after Robert Moses, who was a very important person in New York. He helped build many big projects, like bridges and tunnels. His organization, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, built this playground when they were making the Queens–Midtown Tunnel.
Park History
The land for Robert Moses Playground was acquired in 1937. This happened during the construction of the Queens–Midtown Tunnel. The city traded a part of another park, St. Gabriel's Park (now called St. Vartan Park), to get this land. This trade made space for the tunnel's entrance.
The playground was finished in 1941. It shares its block with a large building that helps ventilate, or air out, the tunnel. The park was officially named after Robert Moses in 1982.
This playground is a popular spot for roller hockey. A group called the East End Hockey Association has been organizing games there since 1972.
Protecting the Park's Land
Since 1982, there have been a few times when people wanted to use the park's land for new buildings. This is sometimes called "land reclamation," meaning taking land for new uses.
Recent Plans for the Park
In 2010, the United Nations suggested a plan to use the park's land. They wanted to build a new office tower there. To make up for losing the park, the city would make the nearby East River Greenway bigger. The East River Greenway is a path along the river.
In December 2010, a local community group, Manhattan Community Board 6, supported this idea. But they said the river path had to be expanded first. In March 2011, the city agreed to study the plan further. This was part of Mayor Bloomberg's plan for New York City's waterfront.
If the city and state leaders agreed, the United Nations could start planning their new building. This building would be an office tower, and it couldn't be taller than the 505-foot United Nations Secretariat Building. The UN would pay the city at least $65 million for the park land. Some people living in Tudor City, which is across from the park, were against this plan.
Agreement Reached
On October 5, 2011, the city and state came to an agreement. They decided to use the western part of Robert Moses Playground for the United Nations campus expansion. In return, the United Nations would pay $73 million. This money would help build the East River esplanade between 38th and 60th streets.
To replace the parkland that was used, the city decided to turn Asser Levy Place into new parkland. This way, New Yorkers would still have green spaces to enjoy.
