American Boy

AMERICAN BOY / 1932 / PELHAM BAY PARK / THIS LIMESTONE SCULPTURE ONCE STOOD AT THE TOP OF THE GRANDSTAND OF RICE STADIUM IN PELHAM BAY PARK. / THE STADIUM, BUILT IN THE EARLY 1920S AND FUNDED THROUGH A GIFT OF JULIA RICE IN MEMORY OF HER LATE / HUSBAND ISAAC RICE, WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1989. THE STATUE WAS RESTORED IN 2002 , AND REINSTALLED IN 2004. / IT HAS BEEN PLACED ON A NEW PEDESTAL NOT FAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN BOY, / THIS STATUE WAS SCULPTED BY LOUIS ST. LANNES. THE PIECE WAS INTENDED TO REFLECT AN IDEAL OF YOUTH. / THE ORIGINAL PLAQUE TEXT READ: / "YOUTH IS ENTITLED TO FREEDOM / THE FUTURE OF CIVILIZATION DEPENDS / UPON OUR CHILDREN. IT IS / ESSENTIAL IF WE CAN HOPE FOR HUMAN / PROGRESS. THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE / UNFETTERED BY THE DOMINATION / AND THE CONVENTIONS OF THE PAST. / WE OWE TO YOUTH AN UNTRAMMELED / HAPPINESS GUIDED BUT NOT STULTIFIED / BY STERN OBEDIENCE TO RIGID / RULES SET DOWN BY THEIR ELDERS. / THE PROPER SPIRIT OF PLAY MUST BE / ENCOURAGED: IT IS THE NATURAL / INSTINCT OF THE YOUNG. / HEALTHY CLEAN MIND IN A STRONG / CLEAN BODY IS THE IDEAL / FOR WHICH WE SHOULD STRIVE."

Where to find it

Pelham Bay Park Tennis Courts. Location data: New York Open Data. Get directions