Man found dead on bench in Manhattan playground: NYPD

LOWER EASTSIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — A New York City Parks Department worker found a man dead after opening a Manhattan playground on Thursday morning, police said.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was found unconscious on a bench in Little Flower Playground near Madison and Jefferson streets on the Lower East Side at around 6 a.m., according to the NYPD.

The man had no visible injuries and was soaking wet from the overnight rainstorm, police said. Authorities don’t believe the man was homeless.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

No other information was immediately available.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org , downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.