The reimagining of the Morse School Playground transforms an underutilized schoolyard into a flexible, shared public space that serves both students and the surrounding Sleepy Hollow community. The design balances security, openness, and ecological enhancements to create a welcoming neighborhood asset in a dense downtown environment.
ProjectMorse School Playground
LocationSleepy Hollow, NY
ClientNY Department of State
CollaboratorsVillage of Sleepy Hollow, Public Schools of the Tarrytowns
ServicesPublic Space Design, Visioning, Outreach and Engagement
Elevated approximately four feet above the street and enclosed by a fence, The Morse School Playground occupies a full block of Beekman Avenue between Pocantico and North Washington Streets in downtown Sleepy Hollow. The school, which serves roughly 360 first- and second-grade students, uses the site for daily recess and school events. Outside school hours, the playground doubles as a vital open space for neighborhood residents, many of whom live in apartments without private outdoor areas. However, the park lacked modern equipment, clear organization, and amenities for shared public use.
Morse School Playgrund Location
As part of the NY Forward process, MUD Workshop collaborated with the Village of Sleepy Hollow, the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, and lead consultant VHB to develop a concept and schematic design for a new shared-use park—Plaza Nueva. Engagement with school administrators, teachers, families, and local residents shaped a design that relocates the playground to the center of the site, replaces aging structures, and introduces a low fence system that clearly defines zones for daytime school use and after-hours public access. The southern portion of the park incorporates shaded seating, new planting beds, and a relocated World War I memorial, while mature trees and the recently resurfaced turf field are preserved and enhanced with improved edges for casual use.
Community Visioning
In May 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Plaza Nueva as one of five projects awarded implementation funding through the inaugural round of NY Forward in the Mid-Hudson Region.
Morse School Playgrund Masterplan
Vision for a Vibrant Morse School Playground
Playground Edge Improvements
ThumbnailMorse School Playgrund LocationMorse School Playgrund MasterplanCommunity VisioningCommunity VisioningCommunity VisioningPlayground Edge ImprovementsPlayground Edge ImprovementsPlayground Edge Improvements
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