Originally built in the 1950s as a playground for 52, the playground suffered decay during the 1970s. In 1980, a group of volunteers known as 52 People for Progress (52 People for Change in some sources) began to rehabilitate the park in collaboration with local musicians such as Mike Amadeo and Eddie Palmieri. Although the school was renamed as MS 302 during the 1990s, the playground is still referred to as Playground 52.
