NYC 's Columbus Park - New York City

Visit the following page for more info regarding this year's Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations.

This park exists due to Abram S. Hewitt's love for parks. He was our mayor from 1887-1888 and it was through him that much funding was given for the creation of small parks in Manhattan.

Located in Chinatown, I consider this to be one of the most ideal neighborhood parks in New York City.......this park has been my favorite for years.

At one end you've got basketball courts where all sorts of kids love to hang out and shoot hoops, next you've got the renovated playgrounds, and they're awfully attractive too!...that is, compared to the previous ones, then after that are open grounds where at just about any time of year, during seasonable weather, you'll find a softball game going on. Some of these games are by kids and teens and there are others.....'Though I've never found out, seems like some of these games are organized by perhaps local police officers, office workers, maybe even lawyers? You'd have to be familiar with the area to understand.....'courthouses abound in the area and it's just above the Financial District. Perhaps I will find out soon enough. Another bit of mystery is this structure at the northern end of the park. I believe it used to be a recreational center...perhaps long long ago? It's fenced off now, and I'm at a loss for getting information as to the status of this structure. I'll keep you up to date on this.

At the northern end of the park, you'll find many groups of Asians assembled for their usual games of cards. They've been seen out there in the dead of winter playing their hands! Here, you'll also see men gathered around a game of Chinese Chess. It's amazing how they'll stand there for hours consumed by the ongoing game.

What I love most about this park is that no matter who you are, nor how you're dressed, you're welcomed here. 'Now that's not to say that people will roll out the red carpet for you, but its the sort of park where you can be invisible if you'd like, and if you choose not to be, then by all means, go up to that stranger and say hello...'or, maybe not. It may not be the cleanest park in the city, but hey, I love it anyhow!

How does that sound?

Located at the opposite corner to the park at Mulberry and Bayard Streets is the Museum of Chinese in the Americas

Located in one of the oldest residential areas of Manhattan this park was of course named after Christopher Columbus, the explorer. Long ago there were those areas known as "The Bend" and "Five Points" which was brought to most folks attention in the movie "The Gangs of New York". It was one of the co-designers of Central Park, Calvert Vaux who designed the original Columbus Park which first opened in 1897. It is now in this day of 2004-2005 that the park is undergoing major reconstruction and renovation with expected completion in mid 2005.