The African American Experience 

Chess Tournament

Courtesy of New York City Parks Photo Archive, Neg. 35587-6. Developing mind rather than muscle, chess players have had a long association with the parks of New York. For more than sixty years, many of the standard park and playground designs have included outdoor chess and checkers gaming tables. In 1952, Parks built the Chess and Checkers House in Central Park--the first municipally-funded permanent structure for this activity. In Washington Square Park, the southwest corner of the park is especially renowned for lively outdoor chess matches. Here, as part of a borough-wide chess tourney for boys and girls 16 and under in age, city youth concentrate on their next move, displaying an intense competitive spirit despite the provisional quarters at this Washington Heights recreation facility.