Mahoney Playground

What was here before?

This park is in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island, directly bordering New Brighton to the west. Originally inhabited by the Lenape, the area remained largely rural into the 19^th century. This area gradually became residential in response to the burgeoning industrial development along the nearby waterfront. The borough’s civic center is located just east of this playground. This site was once occupied by several one- and two- story frame houses and a series of row homes, as well as the remains of foundations of several former dwellings.

How did this site become a playground?

The City acquired the land for the playground in two parts. The Board of Education acquired the first parcel of 1.61 acres by condemnation in 1933, with plans to build a school on the site. In 1936 the land was transferred to Parks, with the school never being built. In 1961 the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) acquired land adjacent to the property to build another playground for the Richmond Terrace Houses. This parcel was developed as a park and transferred to Parks five years later. 

The playground was updated in the 1980s. In the following decade, further improvements included a new spray shower and basketball court, upgrades to handball courts and play equipment, and the addition of a camel and seal play features. In 2011 a once-barren asphalt expanse was transformed with a multi-use recreational field, new basketball courts, and a spray shower with a misting station. 

After Hurricane Sandy, improvements to the basketball courts and play area were sponsored through public-private partnerships with the Knicks’ Basketball in the Boroughs program and the National Football League in 2013.

A rain garden in the park was rebuilt in 2018, and the synthetic turf field was reconstructed in 2022. In 2024 the playground’s basketball courts were dedicated to Sandy Brock (1977-1997). In 2026 the playground’s “tot lot” for young children will be redesigned with new landscaping, play equipment, ground-level activity areas, and painted games.

Who is this playground named for?

Michael J. Mahoney (1897-1918) was a Marine from the West New Brighton neighborhood in Staten Island, who died in combat during World War I. He worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the coastal neighborhood of St. George before enlisting with the Marines on his 21^st birthday. Mahoney served as a private in the 96^th Company of the 6^th Regiment of the Marine Corps and fought in five major battles in France. Mortally wounded while fighting in St. Mihiel, Mahoney died October 12, 1918. His body was returned to the United States where he was buried in West New Brighton’s St. Peter’s Cemetery, the oldest Catholic cemetery (founded 1848) in Staten Island. 

This park was dedicated to Mahoney in 1940, nearly 22 years after his death, with war in Europe again on the horizon. Veterans units, civic units, and North Shore drum corps opened the ceremonies with a parade down Jersey Street.