Maria Hernandez Park

Field Recording 001

Listen to a recording from Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Date & Time: 09.24.2025 730pm

Location: Maria Hernandez Park, Brooklyn, NY

Summary:

Recorded with my iPhone while walking through the park on my way back to my apartment. I started recorded when I heard the pastor vocalizing in the center of the park. This isn’t a pristine recording but rather a cross-section of a lively Wednesday night at the park.

Background:

Back in 1888, circus magnate P.T. Barnum purchased the lot where the park is today from the city of Brooklyn to use as storage. In the 1940s, the New Deal’s WPA built the park we know today. In 1989, Maria Hernandez, local resident and advocate against drug violence, was shot and killed through the window of her apartment at 105 Starr Street. The City Council renamed the park in her memory.

The park includes a basketball court, playground, fitness area, turf field, and dog runs. Today Maria Hernandez Park is the meeting place and event space for the Bushwick community, where everyone unwinds together after a day of work or school.

Notes:

A few things I noticed from the recording:

• 00:05 children playing

• 00:13 basketball bouncing on court

• 00:16 male vocalist sings

• 00:20 “cant believe it bro”

• 00:30 “that’s on your resume”

• 00:33 foreign language

• 00:50 male vocalist peaks

• 00:55 female vocalist enters

• 1:22 car noise

• 1:25 music from womens exercise class

• 1:46 “wasn’t sure what was gonna happen”

You can probably hear that there’s a church service happening. I’m not sure if there was an event or holiday. On weekend mornings, prayer services are frequently held in the park. The recording ends right as the vocalist might have ended singing as you can hear the tune resolving.

EQ and reverb added for character.

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Thanks for listening!

See you next time,

Keith.