As the summer heats up, we are taking a look at the history of New York City’s public playgrounds through the collections of the NYC Municipal Library. Government reports, manuals, photographs, and planning documents reveal how playgrounds have reflected the city’s changing priorities for more than a century, from public health and crime prevention to patriotism, accessibility, and safety.

A book titled Grounds For Play: The Movement that Built Playgrounds for the People of New York traces the origins of the playground movement in the late 19th century, when the city had no municipal playgrounds. As immigration surged, families crowded into squalid tenements, leaving children with little place to play beyond the congested streets. Reformers argued that public playgrounds would promote children’s health, provide safe spaces for recreation, and keep them away from the temptations of street life.