Columbus Park

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Columbus Park was named after Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). Situated in the heart of one of the oldest residential areas of Manhattan , adjacent to the infamous "Five Points" and "the Bend ," Columbus Park stands at the crossroads of the history and culture of New York City.

Mulberry Bend Park (original name) was planned in the 1880's by Calvert Vaux, the famed co-designer of Central Park . Vaux saw it as an opportunity to bring new life and order into the depressed neighborhood. Jacob Riis remarked of the park that it is "little less than a revolution" to see the slum housing go down, while "in its place come trees and grass and flowers; for its dark hovels light and sunshine and air." The park opened in the summer of 1897, with bench-lined curved walkways and an expansive, open grassy area.

It was one of the city's first major urban parks, and was home to such events as "interpark Playground Basket Ball," then played by a youth segregated by weight class, as designated by the Park Commissioner in 1913. Throughout the years many re-constructions and changes have been made. The area continues to be a gathering place for people of different cultures and ages, and hosts a wide variety of events and assemblies

East Village Eco-Culture Map
updated 12/2011 by NYU Tourism Maps