Chester Playground

What was here before?

This playground is in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. In 1865, Charles S. Brown purchased a section of farm and meadowland in this area and built 250 frame houses. It remained essentially a farming village until 1887, when Jewish real estate agent Aaron Kaplan purchased local lots to build tenement housing. These developments drew a significant Jewish population from the Lower East Side seeking to escape the overcrowding.

The arrival of the Fulton Street elevated railway in 1889 and the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 spurred rapid population growth, making Brownsville a densely populated area by 1910. The neighborhood became known for its support of radical political movements in the early 20th century. 

After a post-war decline, Brownsville has seen revitalization with new residents, especially from the Caribbean, have brought a renewed vibrancy to the community.

How did this become a park?

Parks acquired this site and developed the land into a playground in 1964. It was rebuilt in 1998 with new basketball and handball courts, a painted baseball diamond, a shower tot and regular swings, and colorful play equipment.  Features include a yellow sun compass stone, a participatory sundial that highlights the date based on one’s shadow, and small yellow and red “CP” (the park’s initials) squares on the wrought iron fences. The park is slated for renovation in 2026 with multigenerational play areas, spray showers, and new landscaping.

First known as PS 327 Playground, it was later renamed Chester Playground. The basketball courts were named after Oluwadurotimi "Timi" Oyebola. 

Who is this park named for?

Located on Chester Street and Bristol Street, it is named after the street that forms its western boundary.

Oluwadurotimi "Timi" Oyebola (2002-2018) was a bright young student that was a victim of RANDOM gun violence. 

Timi moved with his family from Lagos, Nigeria to Jamaica, Queens in 2013. He attended the nearby Brooklyn Ascend Charter School and neighborhood church, Abundant Life Christian Center, where his father is a minister.

Though Timi's passion was basketball, he was a gifted and dedicated student, with plans to become a doctor or an engineer and had recently won a national prize for academic performance. Friends described him as quiet, studious, and generous, with a sly sense of humor. 

Even though his life was short, Timi was a positive influence on many.