The patron of the playground is August Heckscher – a German-born magnate, financier, and
philanthropist, who arrived in New York in 1867. His first act of philanthropy was when he
donated a piece of property to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. This
piece of land, located on Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets was purchased in
1935 by the same organization. They gave it the name “Heckscher Playground”.
Heckscher Playground is best suited for kids between 6 and 12. It received reconstruction in
2005. It is an all-round playground with swings, slides, a maze, tunnels, ramps, and water
features, divided into two areas for the different age groups. It has its own restrooms and
snack carts, so you can spend a whole day playing just on it!
In 2006 they were reconstructed and now are a state of art, with natural turf outfields, clay
infields, and new drainage and irrigation systems. The Ballfield Café is nearby, so you can go
and celebrate your victory with a great atmosphere and style.