Twenty-Four Sycamores Park

FDR Dr., E. 60 St. To E. 61 St. and York Ave.

Manhattan

Directions via Google Maps

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

What was here before?
Historically, most of this parcel was underwater, with the original East River shoreline cutting along the southwestern corner of the park in front of the public restroom. In the early eighteenth century, the small portion above water was part of Thomas C. Pearsall’s farm. In 1809 Pearsall also acquired the deed for the Mount Vernon Hotel and property, which bordered his farm to the north. The elegant stone carriage house that accompanied the mansion remains one block east on East 61st Street as a landmarked museum.

The upland piece of this property was ultimately owned by the Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony), the predecessor of Mobil Oil. A small diner stood where the current bathrooms are located.

In the 1920s or 1930s, the underwater portion of this park was filled in, but remained vacant until the State of New York granted it to the City in 1942.

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