About the seward park conservancy

Seward Park Conservancy is the community-led steward of America's first municipal playground—protecting, revitalizing, and activating Seward Park through hands-on horticulture, education, advocacy, and partnership, bridging the neighborhood's historic significance with its dynamic future.

Located on Manhattan's Lower East Side near Chinatown, East Broadway, Essex Street, and the historic Seward Park Library, Seward Park has served generations of New Yorkers since 1903. Today, it remains one of New York City's most vibrant municipal parks—a place where history, recreation, culture, and nature come together in the heart of our community.

Every day, Seward Park welcomes families to its playgrounds and splash pad, neighbors gathering beneath its mature trees, children discovering nature, volunteers tending gardens, seniors practicing tai chi, community members participating in Guangchang Wu dancing, athletes enjoying volleyball and basketball, and visitors exploring one of New York City's most historically significant public spaces.

Working alongside the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Seward Park Conservancy helps preserve and enhance this remarkable park through volunteer stewardship, horticultural care, community engagement, fundraising, education, advocacy, and public-private partnerships. From maintaining gardens and expanding Pollinator Place to supporting restoration projects, organizing volunteer days, and promoting environmental stewardship, we are committed to ensuring Seward Park remains a welcoming destination for everyone who lives, works, and visits the Lower East Side.

As caretakers of this extraordinary public space, we believe that parks are more than places to pass through—they are living civic commons that strengthen neighborhoods, improve quality of life, foster community connections, and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and quiet reflection. Whether you're visiting the playground with your children, relaxing beside the historic Jacob Schiff Memorial Fountain, admiring the neighborhood mosaic, participating in outdoor activities, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk beneath the trees, Seward Park offers something for every generation.