Bushwick Playground

This field is named in honor of Barry ‘Sly’ Morrow for his generosity and dedication to the Bushwick community.

Morrow grew up in Bushwick and graduated from Bushwick High School. He founded the Bushwick Football League in 1974 to help local youth learn the fundamentals of sportsmanship. The league took shape and soon became a catalyst for sports in the broader area of Brooklyn. By 1984, the league involved teams from the entire borough and was renamed the Brooklyn Football League. Morrow’s legendary football league was a staple in the community for 32 years. 

Morrow worked for the United Parcel Service and guided the league with all of his remaining time and resources. He took a second job as a cab driver to defray the costs of operating the league. By creating a network of players and teams, Morrow made competition a healthy part of sporting life. In the face of surrounding decay, Morrow saw sports as a way to alleviate urban blight and help people thrive. Hundreds of children benefitted from the league he created. He continued in this work until his passing on Christmas Day 2006.

In 2006, the former asphalt field was renovated with state-of-the-art synthetic turf. The field is now used for softball, soccer, and volleyball.