J.J. Byrne Playground

3 St., 4 St. bet. 4 Ave. and 5 Ave.

Brooklyn

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

James J. Byrne was born April 8, 1863 on Water Street in Brooklyn to Irish immigrant parents. He was raised near the Brooklyn Navy Yard in an area known as Irishtown. He completed St. James parochial school with an eighth grade diploma, and worked in the machinist trade. He joined the Building Department as a clerk in 1898.