Patterson Playground

What was here before?

This site was formerly home to apartment buildings, small wood-framed residences, and a former school, as well as commercial businesses including a trucking company, bar and restaurant, and junk shop. These buildings were demolished to make room for the Patterson Houses. A small triangular park was also removed to make way for the playground and accompanying residences.

How did this site become a playground?

The playground is adjacent to the Patterson Houses. The land for P.S. 18 & Patterson Houses Playground, which was planned as a recreational space for the buildings’ residents and local students, was acquired in 1952. Construction began the same year and the playground opened on October 31, 1953. Parks shortened the name to Patterson Playground in 1987.

The park went through a series of renovations in 1997, 2004, and 2017. The playground was fully renovated and reopened in 2020. The reconstructed playground provides play equipment, features a decorative concrete pavement area with spray showers, and has a new community garden, among other site improvements.

Patterson Playground is a Jointly Operated Playground (JOP) serving P.S. 018 John Peter Zenger and the local community. Beginning in 1938, the Board of Education agreed to provide land next to schools where NYC Parks could build and maintain playgrounds that could be used by the school during the day and by the public when school is not in session.

Who is this playground named for?

This playground honors one of New York City’s most prominent judges, Lester W. Patterson (1893-1947).

Born in the Bronx on July 24, 1893, Patterson attended St. Jerome’s Parochial School and Fordham Prep. Choosing to remain near home, Patterson earned both his bachelor’s degree in 1915 and Law Degree in 1917 from Fordham University. With the United States' entry into World War I in 1917, Patterson postponed his career in law to enlist in the United States Army. He was assigned overseas and fought in Europe with the 105th Artillery, eventually earning the rank of Lieutenant. Patterson returned home after the war and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1920.

In the 1920s, Patterson served as a representative to the State Assembly (1922-26), Bronx County Sheriff (1926-1930), County Clerk (1930-34), and Bronx County Judge (1935). As a judge, Patterson earned a reputation for sympathetic treatment of people who were underprivileged. Impressed by the respect Patterson commanded, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) appointed him Chairman of the National War Fund in 1945. Earning widespread bipartisan support during his first term as Bronx County Judge, Patterson was voted into a second term but died shortly after Election Day on November 16, 1947. Upon hearing of Patterson’s death, Mayor William O’ Dwyer (1890-1964) said, “I deeply regret the loss of a close personal friend and a great judge.”