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Frederick Johnson Playground
Up the Hudson, just across the river from Yankee Stadium, you'll find Frederick Johnson Playground and the 8 courts it houses that are often referred to as The Jungle. Frederick Johnson (1891-1963) was an inspirational tennis player, coach, teacher and Harlem native who enriched the lives of countless members of this community. Johnson was a gifted sportsman from his earliest years, but an accident from his youth claimed his left arm just above the elbow. Determined to remain active, he soon taught himself to play tennis, defying everyone’s expectations about his apparent disability. After developing his own unique style of play, Johnson eventually competed professionally.