Poor Richard's Playground

E. 109 St. bet.ween 2 Ave. and 3 Ave.

Manhattan, 10029

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This playground bears the name of one of Benjamin Franklin’s most beloved aliases, Poor Richard Saunders. Born in Boston, Franklin (1706-1790) was apprenticed to his brother to learn the printing trade. In 1723 young Ben Franklin moved to Philadelphia, where he launched the Pennsylvania Gazette, soon the most popular newspaper in the colonies. Franklin was one of Philadelphia’s leading citizens, founding the first circulating library, proposing an Academy (which became the University of Pennsylvania), establishing the American Philosophical Society, and creating programs to pave, light, and clean the city streets. He invented the efficient "Franklin Stove" and experimented with a kite in a thunderstorm, proving the presence of electricity in lightning.

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Poor Richard’s Playground