Maria Hernandez Park carries the name of a Bushwick activist murdered in 1989 for pushing back against the drug trade on her block, and the park has been the neighborhood's shared yard ever since. Its central plaza with a sound system is Bushwick at full volume on a summer afternoon — dominoes at the tables, soccer on the field, a dance floor in the middle. If you want the neighborhood undiluted rather than the bar version of it, come here.
What to expect
Expect a DJ setup on a paved plaza surrounded by benches and shade trees, with ballfields, handball courts and a playground running in parallel. The park stays fully in use during the event, so the crowd is a cross-section of Bushwick rather than an audience. Knickerbocker Avenue's food is a block away in either direction.
Good to know
- Maria Hernandez Park runs between Knickerbocker and Irving Avenues around Starr Street in Bushwick.
- The L at Jefferson Street and the M at Knickerbocker Avenue are both a couple of blocks away.
- The plaza is paved and flat with bench seating around the edges.
- Bring water — the plaza is sunny even with the park's tree line nearby.
- It is free and open under a NYC Parks amplified-sound permit.
- Playground, handball and ballfields are all on site if you are bringing kids.
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Common questions
Who was Maria Hernandez?
A Bushwick community activist killed in 1989 after organizing against drug dealing in the neighborhood; the park was renamed in her honor.
Where is the central plaza?
In the middle of Maria Hernandez Park, between the ballfields and the playground, off Knickerbocker Avenue.
Is it free?
Yes, it takes place on public parkland with open access.
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