Defending Public Parks in Early NYC

New Yorkers have been concerned about the state of our public parks for more than a century. In the 1860s, as city officials concentrated funds on the newly opened Central Park, parks in New York City’s lower-income neighborhoods faced neglect, deterioration, and loss of acreage. The struggle came to a head in 1876, when demand for public transportation led to the construction of a for-profit elevated railroad over Battery Park and many New Yorkers resisted. Marika Plater, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Predoctoral Fellow, will share her research on everyday New Yorkers whose activism aimed to protect green spaces we still use today.

This event is geared towards educators but is open to all with interest in the topic.

Educators will learn about sources in the exhibition New York at Its Core available to support their students’ learning in the Museum and online. Participants will leave with resources for the classroom and a CTLE certificate for 1.5 hours of professional development.

Light refreshments will be served.

Want more New York stories?

This discussion is part of the lecture series New York Under the Lens: Educator Evenings at the Museum of the City of New York. Led by the Museum's Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Predoctoral Fellows in History Education, these informative talks and lively discussions uncover new approaches to examining New York City’s past and present. These events are geared towards educators but open to all with interest in the topics.