Around Sara D Roosevelt Park

Almost every morning during the warmer months, in the early hours of the day, local residents come to this spot for a traditional Chinese bird-singing contest. The birdsong can be heard regularly. Tai Chi and other Asian art forms are practiced in the park, too. Image from this NY Times article.

The Bowery Residents Committee was formed in 1971 by a small group of the Bowery's less-fortunates to assist the homeless, poor, and struggling, and it exists today as a community center for local senior citizens.

The local middle school, MS 131 is also a local voting site.

Hester Street playground as it is today is the work of the local community over an entire year, having been renovated from a dilapidated, borderline-dangerous park into a very popular playground where children go every day to have fun. There is also an open square and a pair of handball courts in this park. Photo from this Time Out NY article.

Lion's Gate field, named for the pair of lions that flank the park's entrance on Grand Street, is one of three dedicated soccer fields in SDR Park. It is well-maintained, and it is often a site for organized soccer teams who play well into the night.

Named to commemorate a nearby African American burial ground, M'finda Kalunga community garden is a verdant haven for birds, turtles, butterflies and people. Founded in 1983 to address the area's lack of affordable housing and increasing drug problems, the M'Finda Kalunga Community Garden encourages community involvement and creating resources that will benefit the neighborhood.

Nike Field is one of three dedicated soccer fields in Sara D. Roosevelt park. Sadly, Nike has been disinclined to maintain it, and it fell into disrepair - it's got new turf again. Artificial turf has its downsides, including overheating, non-recyclability, etc, and shockingly, NYC counts it as green infrastructure.

A pair of twin basketball courts sit along Stanton Street as it passes through the park, where teenagers play sports in the morning and afternoon. Photo from Wikimedia

This playground is old but still very popular; brightly colored jungle gyms and swing sets are often populated by young children, and the sprinkler is almost always on in the summer for kids to enjoy. In 2020, new public restrooms opened on the west side of the Stanton Storehouse.

The Bowery Mission has been helping the less-fortunate since 1879, and its mission remains to provide aid to those trapped in poverty. There are many opportunities to volunteer at the Mission, and to help homeless and hungry New Yorkers get the aid they need.

The New Museum is a modern art museum, featuring many works from all over the US and the globe. Founded in 1977, it recently (commissioned 2002) moved to a new building at the origin of Prince Street.

One of the last truly-multipurpose park spaces in New York City, the Pit is an empty asphalt space where morning tai chi sessions are held and bike polo is played. If it's unoccupied, it's a good place to take a bat or a soccer ball out or just run around for a bit. Image from this Bowery Boogie article.