William Sheridan Playground

What was here before?
In 1638 Willem Kieft “purchased" a large area between Wallabout Bay and Newtown Creek from the Canarsee, who first inhabited the land. While the Europeans saw these agreements as transfer of ownership, the Canarsee understood them as a lease agreement or joint tenancy. Troubled relationships between the two factions slowed settlement for decades.

This property was part of the Meserole or Keikout Farm, which was patented to Reyer Lambertsen in 1646 and later owned by Jan Meserole. His heirs retained the farm until 1756 when the family divided and sold the property. Richard M. Woodhull, a real estate speculator, purchased 13 acres along the East River in 1802. He named the development Willamsburgh after his friend who surveyed the property, Colonel Jonathan Williams. The venture was slow to gain traction, and ultimately it was taken over by his father-in-law James H. Maxwell, who sold some of the land to speculators before the remainder was sold at a Sheriff's sale in 1818.

The village continued to grow and industrialize over the next several decades and by mid-nineteenth century it was one of the largest cities in the country. By 1968, this block was lined with industrial buildings, which included a shoe factory, coal and wood yard, and a "bacon curer."

How did this site become a playground?
The City purchased this land for park purposes in 1934, and Adolf A. Berle, Jr. signed the deed as trustee of the War Memorial Fund, which donated the playground in William E. Sheridan's name. One of nine memorial playgrounds, it was dedicated on July 15, 1934.

In 1969 Parks renamed this site De Diego Playground after P.S. 84, also known as De Diego School, which was built that year on the eastern portion of the playground and was also expanded at that time. José De Diego (1866-1914) was a speaker of the House of Delegates of Puerto Rico and the leader of the Union Party there. Imprisoned on several occasions for his antimonarchic views, he began to practice law in Puerto Rico in 1891 after graduating from the University of Havana.

The Board of Education rebuilt this playground in 1970 and Parks reconstructed it again in 1998. Parks reinstated Sheridan's name on the playground in 1997. This playground is a Jointly Operated Playground (JOP) serving PS 84 José de Diego and the local community.

In 2023 the multi-use asphalt play area was converted into a multi-purpose synthetic turf field with perimeter track and a new adult fitness area. Basketball and handball facilities, playgrounds, swings, and the water play area were all reconstructed as well. The redesign unified the previously separate program areas to improve connections and circulation. Stairs connecting the lower and upper sections of the playground were replaced with a sloped ramp. Fencing throughout the park was also lowered to improve site lines and make the site more welcoming.

Who is this playground named for?
This playground honors William E. Sheridan (1893-1918), a New York Police Officer who was killed in action during World War I.

Sheridan, a native of Hawley, Pennsylvania, moved to New York City in 1911 to seek employment, and joined the Police Department on October 22, 1917. He was assigned to the 82nd Precinct in Brooklyn, and, during his service there, received a commendation for an act of conspicuous bravery that left him with serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

Sheridan enlisted in the United States Army on May 29, 1918 and left for overseas duty on July 8, 1918, as a member of 313th Infantry, 79th Division, Company B. He died at the Battle of the Argonne from machine gun wounds on October 1, 1918, just 41 days before the Armistice and the end of World War I. Buried at Montfaucon in the Province of Avocourt, France, his body was shipped home to Pennsylvania two years later to be re-interred with full military honors. Sheridan was also included in the Honor Legion, having fulfilled that division's slogan, "Until Death." American Legion Post #1059, which includes members of the New York Police Department, is known as the William E. Sheridan Police Post in honor of this brave young man.