Bobbie Lewis Jr. Playground

What was here before?

Erastus Wiman (1834-1904), a prominent Staten Island businessman, first developed this area of Mariners Harbor in the late 1880s as an entertainment center that concentrated on a new rail station, which he called Erastina. A few years later, as the maritime industry increased in the neighborhood, it began to be called by its present name, Mariners Harbor.

Until the early 20th century, the local economy of Richmond Terrace was dominated by Brewer’s Dry Dock and the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard. During World War II, Bethlehem workers produced a significant percentage of the aircraft used by the U.S. Navy. The company closed in 1958.

How did this site become a playground?

The City acquired this site from the Sinking Fund (a defunct government body) in 1912. Fourteen years later, the City transferred the property to Parks. It opened as Mariner’s Harbor Playground in 1934 with a basketball and volleyball court, playground, and spray shower. The site name changed several times, to Mariner’s Playground in 1996 and Harbor Playground in 1997, before its original name was reinstated. It was renamed Bobbie Lewis Jr. Playground in 2021.

This site was improved through Parks' Community Parks Initiative, a multi-faceted program to invest in under-resourced public parks and increase the accessibility and quality of parks throughout the five boroughs. In 2022, this project constructed new amenities such as multigenerational play areas, adult fitness section, and basketball court.

What is this playground named for?

Bobbie Lewis Jr. (1968-2019) was an all-star athlete and referee who mentored youth in the area.

A lifelong resident of Staten Island, Lewis attended Port Richmond High School where he played on the varsity basketball team as the star point guard. After graduating in 1987, he brought his love of basketball to the Catholic Youth Organization where he became a referee. Lewis was known to be fair, had a calm demeanor, and made time to give advice to the players both on and off the court. In 2019, Lewis was struck by a vehicle and killed near his home in Mariners Harbor. His legacy lives on through the memories of those he influenced and the teachings he imparted to the youth of his community.