![]() New York City bloggers are always bemoaning the rapid disappearance of small business in place of large chains, and the old neighborhood has seen it's share of that. But who wants to take their children to a park that is being patrolled by cops non-stop? Now, with crime drastically decreased in the city, the design is at its most practical, with a playground and swings in the center inhabited by little kids and there parents, flanked by an area with benches inhabited by old ladies and me, and the ball court that hasn't changed much at all. When the park was redone shortly before we moved in 1989, it was widened in the center so that police cars could drive through, in an effort to crack down on the drug dealers that were starting to take the place over. ![]() The plan of my childhood was so full of jagged corners, steep falls and high walls that my father used to joke that whoever designed this park obviously didn't have any kids. The park has been remodeled at least twice since I moved upstate to Nyack. Catherine's Park I found online, but I think they only describe the original plan. I found this out from reading a history of St. The flagpole in the center of the park represents the altar, the play areas on either side are the pews, and the paving pattern of the park resembles that of the floor of the church in Rome. When the land was purchased in 1902, the park's design was based on Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, built in 1280, where St. Back then we all called it the "local park", and for years I thought this was it's official name, but as it turns out, it too was named for St. Up the street on 1st Avenue is the park also named for the saint where I spent a great deal of my early childhood. ![]() This parish was formed in 1897 mainly for the Irish community, and the current church, run by the Dominican friars, is actually quite massive, with a number of shrines lining the walls. On 68th between 1st and York is another Catholic church, St. The layout, and the farmers market they have on Saturdays, has remained pretty much unchanged since the eighties. 183, my old school, and around the block is the schoolyard where I spent many an hour. It's often open during the day and I like to go in an admire the intricately designed stained glass, statues and grotto in the front. The current church was finished in 1925, and it really is a beauty. Brigid's on 8th Street and Avenue B, and organized their first parish on East 4th Street. When the first big influx of immigrants from Slovakia arrived in the city, there was a big call to form a parish of their own where they could speak their own language. Founded by Slovakian immigrants, it is served by two Hungarian priests, one old and one young, has a Hungarian flag at the altar and has mass in Slovak every Sunday. John Nepumuk, is on the corner of 1st Avenue and East 66th Street. The church where I was baptized and had my first communion, St. Places that were actually only a block away, I remembered as being about five blocks away. Well, when I moved back into the apartment that I had moved out of when I was a kid a few years back, that's the way I felt about the whole neighborhood. The walls are closer together and the water fountains are at your knees. You know how when you're in high school and you go back to your elementary school and it looks like the hallway has shrunk? Everything is much smaller than you remember. The sign for Peppermint Park still remains at the door of what is now a Dunkin' Donuts. John Nepumucene Church on 66th and 1st today. The new high-rise that went up next to St. Catherine's was built in 1930.Īnother shot of the schoolyard of P.S. The Dominican Friars were celebrating St. Catherine of Sienna Church on 68th between 1st and York. Side doors of the school are labeled "BOYS" and "GIRLS". 183 on East 67th Street between 1st and York. Catherine's Park in 1902, before it was finished. John Nepumocene Church in 1927, two years after it was built. My building on 65th and 1st, built in 1898.
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