Lion's Pride Playground

What was here before?

Once home to the Canarsie tribe, East New York was once called Ostwout, Dutch for “east woods.” English settlers subsequently called the area New Lots to differentiate it from Old Lots, then a part of Flatbush. Dutch farmers tilled the land from the 1670s into the 19th century. Connecticut merchant John Pitkin, hoping to create a cosmopolitan annex of Manhattan, purchased much of New Lots in 1835 and named it East New York. His development plans were stalled by the Panic of 1837, and the area remained sparsely populated until the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 and construction of a subway line to the area in 1922.

How did this site become a playground?

This site was acquired by the City of New York in 1929, and for many years it included a wading pool, recreation building, handball court, and asphalt area. In 1997, it was named RSVP Playground, an abbreviation for Riverdale, Snediker, and Van Sinderen Playground. A reconstruction in 1999 initiated by the East New York Urban Youth Corps gave the playground a lion theme, which included yellow play equipment evoking a lion’s golden mane and a lion water basin.

In 2022 a project to rebuild the playground added new play equipment, which included a pride rock and savannah-themed elements in keeping with the playground’s theme. A lion’s head steel drum, which was installed in 1999, was refurbished. A section with games painted on the ground, an adult fitness area, and a new basketball court were also added to the playground.

What is this playground named for?

This playground was renamed in 1998 in honor of the lion, an animal long celebrated as the “King of Beasts” for its awe-inspiring power and beauty. Lions are known for their fiercely close-knit social grouping, called a pride. The name of this playground has been embraced and celebrated by the community.