Robert Moses Playground
Encyclopedia
Robert Moses Playground is a 1.3 acre (0.5260918 ha) playground
and park
in the New York City
borough of Manhattan
. It is located in the Murray Hill
neighborhood on First Avenue
between 41st and 42nd
streets, immediately south of the United Nations Headquarters
. The park is named for New York's "master builder" Robert Moses
.
The land for the park was obtained in 1937 as part of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel construction in exchange for the taking of a portion of St. Gabriel's Park (now named St. Vartan Park) for an approach roadway. The Park itself was completed in 1941 and shares the block with the large ventilation
building for the tunnel. It was named for Moses in 1982.
The playground is often used for roller hockey
, and the East End Hockey Association has been organizing games at the site since 1972.
Since 1982, there have been at least three attempts to take the park's land for building projects.
The most recent proposal was raised by the United Nations in June of 2010. Under this deal, the city would then expand the nearby East River Greenway to compensate for the loss of this park.. On 8 December 2010, Manhattan Community Board 6
gave their support to this plan, providing that the esplanade was expanded. In March 2011, the city gave approval to move ahead with a feasibility study for this project as part of Mayor Bloomberg's
Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.
If agreed by the city and the heads of both houses of the New York State Legislature, the United Nations Development Corporation
could begin preliminary planning for a new office tower, which could be no taller than the 505 feet (153.9 m) tall Secretariat Building
. The UN would pay the city at least $65 million for the park. The plan is opposed by some residents of Tudor City
, which is across the street from the park.
On 5 October 2011, the city and state reached an agreement to use the western portion of Robert Moses Playground for an expansion of the United Nations campus. In exchange, the United Nations Development Corporation would pay $73 million to fund the development of the East River esplanade between 38th and 60th streets.
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
and park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. It is located in the Murray Hill
Murray Hill, Manhattan
Murray Hill is a Midtown Manhattan neighborhood in New York City, USA. Around 1987 many real estate promoters of the neighborhood and newer residents described the boundaries as within East 34th Street, East 42nd Street, Madison Avenue, and the East River; in 1999, Frank P...
neighborhood on First Avenue
First Avenue (Manhattan)
First Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Houston Street northbound for over 125 blocks before terminating at the Willis Avenue Bridge into The Bronx at the Harlem River near East 127th Street. South of Houston Street, the...
between 41st and 42nd
42nd Street (Manhattan)
42nd Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, known for its theaters, especially near the intersection with Broadway at Times Square. It is also the name of the region of the theater district near that intersection...
streets, immediately south of the United Nations Headquarters
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
. The park is named for New York's "master builder" Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
.
The land for the park was obtained in 1937 as part of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel construction in exchange for the taking of a portion of St. Gabriel's Park (now named St. Vartan Park) for an approach roadway. The Park itself was completed in 1941 and shares the block with the large ventilation
Ventilation (architecture)
Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
building for the tunnel. It was named for Moses in 1982.
The playground is often used for roller hockey
Roller hockey
Roller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and...
, and the East End Hockey Association has been organizing games at the site since 1972.
Since 1982, there have been at least three attempts to take the park's land for building projects.
The most recent proposal was raised by the United Nations in June of 2010. Under this deal, the city would then expand the nearby East River Greenway to compensate for the loss of this park.. On 8 December 2010, Manhattan Community Board 6
Manhattan Community Board 6
Manhattan Community Board 6 is a local government unit of New York City, New York, United States. Its area of responsibility encompasses the East Side of Manhattan from 14th Street to 59th Street. This includes the neighborhoods of Gramercy Park, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Waterside...
gave their support to this plan, providing that the esplanade was expanded. In March 2011, the city gave approval to move ahead with a feasibility study for this project as part of Mayor Bloomberg's
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.
If agreed by the city and the heads of both houses of the New York State Legislature, the United Nations Development Corporation
United Nations Development Corporation
The United Nations Development Corporation is a public benefit corporation in New York State that helps the United Nations with its real estate and development needs....
could begin preliminary planning for a new office tower, which could be no taller than the 505 feet (153.9 m) tall Secretariat Building
United Nations Secretariat Building
The United Nations Secretariat Building is a tall skyscraper and the centerpiece of the United Nations Headquarters, located in the Turtle Bay area of Manhattan, in New York City. The lot where the building stands is considered United Nations territory, although remains part of the United States.-...
. The UN would pay the city at least $65 million for the park. The plan is opposed by some residents of Tudor City
Tudor City
Tudor City is an apartment complex located on the East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is the first residential skyscraper complex in the world. It is bordered by East 40th Street to the south, First Avenue to the east, Second Avenue to the west, and East 43rd Street to the north...
, which is across the street from the park.
On 5 October 2011, the city and state reached an agreement to use the western portion of Robert Moses Playground for an expansion of the United Nations campus. In exchange, the United Nations Development Corporation would pay $73 million to fund the development of the East River esplanade between 38th and 60th streets.