Rumsey Playfield

Rumsey Playfield is an outdoor performance space in Central Park featuring a stage that can accommodate thousands of spectators for shows and events. The grounds sit within the park's landscape, with open seating areas surrounding the stage.

The site began as an Art Deco nightclub in the 1920s before being converted to a children's playground in 1937 under Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. It was named after philanthropist Mary Harriman Rumsey, who had supported park initiatives.

The space hosts ongoing music concerts, dance performances, and theatrical productions that draw crowds throughout the warmer months. These events have become a key way that New Yorkers and visitors experience live performance without formal venue constraints.

The main entrance sits near Fifth Avenue and 69th Street, accessible via several subway stations and bus routes nearby. Wear comfortable shoes and arrive early for events, as good seating fills up quickly on popular performance nights.

A Mother Goose statue marks the entrance, a remnant from the site's time as a children's playground. This quiet landmark often goes unnoticed by visitors focused on the main stage, yet it holds traces of the place's earlier purpose.