Courts — The Sunnyside Gardens Guide

The Courts of Sunnyside Gardens

The original plan of Sunnyside Gardens combined small private gardens with larger interior green spaces and a network of paths.

The arrangement varied from court to court. Some blocks use perimeter rows surrounding central gardens, while Jefferson Court and Madison Court North use mews-like rows set perpendicular to the street.

Rather than organizing each block around private rear yards, the homes were arranged around a series of landscaped interior gardens that encouraged a stronger connection between architecture, landscape, and community.

Hidden behind the streetscape, these courts remain one of the most distinctive residential environments in New York City and continue to define the character of Sunnyside Gardens more than a century after they were first created.

Explore the map below and discover the courts that shaped the neighborhood.

The Original Court Plan

Published by the City Housing Corporation in the 1920s, this plan shows how houses, gardens, courts, paths, and community spaces were organized across the larger development.

Street names have changed since the plan was created, but the original block structure remains recognizable today.

Click the images below to explore the different courts.