Rosebank is a Staten Island neighborhood where church life still spills into the street, and De Matti Playground — a modest lawn-and-asphalt park on Tompkins Avenue — is where it lands on a summer afternoon. An open-air Bible hour is a small thing done in public: chairs on the blacktop, a portable speaker, people who came on purpose and people already on the benches. If you want the North Shore as a neighborhood rather than a commute, this is that afternoon.
What to expect
The permit covers both the lawn and the paved side of De Matti Playground, so expect a loose setup of chairs and a table rather than a stage. It is a small park, which means the program and the regular playground and court traffic share the space. People drift in and out through the session.
Good to know
- From the St. George Ferry terminal, the Bay Street and Tompkins Avenue buses run down to Rosebank
- De Matti Playground is a small neighborhood park with courts, a lawn and a paved play area
- It is free and open — a permit reserves the space but the park itself stays public
- Shade is limited on the asphalt side; the lawn edge is the cooler place to sit
- Bring water, since there are no concessions inside the park
- Best for local families and anyone curious about Rosebank's church-and-street life
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Common questions
What does LVBC stand for?
The permit lists only the initials. Liberty View Baptist Church, known as LVBC, is located at 512 Tompkins Avenue, a few blocks from the park.
Where is De Matti Playground?
On Tompkins Avenue in Rosebank, on Staten Island's North Shore, in Community Board 1.
Is it open to anyone?
The park is public and free. The program itself is run by the permit holder, so ask on site before joining in.
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