D'Emic Playground

What was here before?

This site, along with several surrounding blocks, was owned by Garrett Bergen and his son John G. Bergen (1814-1867) in the nineteenth century. Both were descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen (c. 1610-1654), one of the first Scandinavian settlers in Brooklyn. The younger Bergen was a member of the New York State Assembly, Supervisor of Brooklyn’s Eighth Ward, and New York City Police Commissioner.

Aerial images from 1924 show the northern half of this site as vacant, with a large building on the southern portion. Tax photos from July 1940 show this lot as largely vacant, with a small Esso gas station.

How did this site become a park?

The City of New York acquired the site in 1940 to build the Gowanus Expressway and assigned it to Parks that same year.  In 1973, the playground was named John D’Emic, Sr. Memorial Park by local law and later shortened to D’Emic Playground in 1987.  When the park’s features and equipment were upgraded during a 1983 renovation, the park’s restroom building and a sandbox were removed. 

This site was renovated in 202X through the Community Parks Initiative – a multi-faceted program to increase the accessibility and quality of parks throughout the five boroughs in an equitable manner. In addition to upgrades to the basketball courts and sitting and play areas, one of the playground’s three basketball courts will be converted into a synthetic turf field.

Who is this park named for?

John D’Emic Sr. (1896-1972) was a South Brooklyn native. He was born the youngest of seven boys to poor Italian immigrants, and began working at the age of 12, first as a clam-opener, then as a plumber, a trolley motorman, a pharmacist, and a truckdriver.  After serving with distinction in France during World War I, D’Emic returned to Brooklyn to settle down with his wife Irene and their five children.  In 1937, D’Emic opened a used automobile business on the corner of 32nd Street and 4th Avenue, which became a borough institution. 

As a successful businessman, D’Emic supported community organizations for the youth and disadvantaged of South Brooklyn.  He died in February 1972, and was remembered as a simple, honest, hard-working man with a love of family.  He had 25 grandchildren.  His son, John D’Emic, Jr., inherited his father’s business but died in 1974, and the automobile business closed.