Asser Levy Park

Asser Levy Park is a 21.04-acre park in the Coney Island neighborhood of southern Brooklyn, stretching along Sea Breeze Avenue between Ocean Parkway and West 5th Street. The park is named for Asser Levy van Swellem, one of the first Jewish settlers in New Amsterdam, who in 1655 won the right for Jewish residents to stand guard on the city wall.

Levy's successful petition to the Dutch colonial government was one of the earliest civil rights victories in American history, establishing a precedent for religious freedom that would become a cornerstone of American democracy. His name appears on several public facilities in New York City, including the Asser Levy Recreation Center in Manhattan.

The park features basketball courts, handball courts, a playground, and open green spaces. Its location in Coney Island places it within a neighborhood that has long been one of Brooklyn's most diverse and economically challenged communities, making public parks especially important as recreation resources.

Coney Island's identity is defined by its famous boardwalk, amusement parks, and beach, but the residential neighborhood behind the attractions has its own character and needs. Asser Levy Park serves the year-round community of families and residents who call Coney Island home beyond the summer tourist season.

The park provides essential green space in a neighborhood where the density of large public housing developments creates high demand for outdoor recreation. For the families of Coney Island, Asser Levy Park is not a tourist attraction but a daily amenity.