Abe Lebewohl Park

Abe Lebewohl Park is a small triangular park in the East Village, bounded by East 10th Street, Stuyvesant Street, and Second Avenue. It is named in memory of Abe Lebewohl, the beloved owner of the Second Avenue Deli, who was tragically murdered during a robbery in 1996.

The park sits on a triangular plot created by the intersection of Stuyvesant Street, one of the few streets in Manhattan that does not follow the standard grid pattern. Stuyvesant Street runs true east-west (aligned with compass directions rather than the grid), a relic of the original Stuyvesant family farm that once occupied this area.

Before receiving its current name, this triangle served as an informal gathering spot for East Village residents. Its renaming honored a man synonymous with the neighborhood's character, known for feeding the homeless and supporting local causes from his famous delicatessen.

Today the park features benches, plantings maintained by local volunteers, and a small paved area. Its location at the convergence of several busy streets makes it a natural stopping point for pedestrians.

Abe Lebewohl Park is a characteristic Manhattan pocket park, a modest green space that preserves both the memory of a beloved local figure and the irregular geometry of one of Manhattan's oldest street patterns.