The name of this playground, and the adjacent street, honor Tunis Joralemon’s (1760-1840) prized garden.
Joralemon, a New Jersey native, worked as a harness and saddle maker. In 1803, he purchased his estate from Philip Livingston. Thereafter, he spent much of his time cultivating vegetables in his garden. The sale of these, and of dairy products, became his primary source of income. Outspoken and opinionated, Joralemon was active in church and civic affairs. He fought bitterly to prevent the encroachment of public roads through his property, but at his death, Henry and Clinton Streets already crossed his land, and more soon followed. Joralemon Street, which borders the property, was actually laid out before he came to the area, but it took on his name in the years that he lived there.