The land was originally acquired by the city of New York in 1929 for the purpose of widening Chrystie and Forsyth Streets and building low-cost housing, but was instead used for parkland.

[5] The original design placed an emphasis on athletic fields and "active recreation" spaces for children, such as wading pools, with separate areas for boys and girls.

[6] In 2022, The New York Times reported that the park had become "a catch basin for the city's crime and drug problems and homeless crisis".

[6] The park offers playing surfaces for several sports, including a basketball court, roller skating rink and a soccer field.

[8] The latter two courts are painted colorfully, following a collaboration between Nike, the New York Parks & Recreation Department, and New Jersey street artist KAWS.