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This triangle’s name was inspired by the adjacent Hamilton Place, named for the American Revolution era patriot Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), and the Federalist movement of which he was a participant. Born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies, Hamilton moved to New York City in 1772 and attended King’s College (now Columbia University). With the outbreak of Read more...
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Freedom Square is located in the heart of Kew Gardens Hills. This region of central Queens was primarily farmland as late as the early 20th century. Transportation improvements in the 1930s, such as the opening of the Grand Central Parkway and the arrival of the Independent Subway, spurred residential development in the area. Following the success of Forest Hills, Richmond Read more...
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The Abyssinian Baptist Church was the first African American Baptist congregation in the state of New York and the fourth in the nation. It was founded in 1808 by members of the First Baptist Church who took issue with the racially segregated seating arrangements maintained by the congregation. The dissenting parishioners, under the leadership of a small party of seamen Read more...
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Frank D. O’Connor (1909-1992) led a remarkable career in public life over four decades. He was born in Manhattan to Irish immigrant parents and raised in Elmhurst, Queens. O’Connor graduated from Newtown High School and Niagara University, working his way through college as a lifeguard. He earned his L.L.B. from Brooklyn Law School in 1934. During World War II, he Read more...
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Born in Byronville, Georgia, Edward Fisher (1904-1970) moved to East Elmhurst in 1945 and became an active member of the community. Employed as a truck driver by Solomon Brothers, he is best remembered for his involvement in various civic movements, including the building of this pool. Mr. Fisher was president of the 16 Square Block Civic Association of East Elmhurst, Read more...
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Father Bernard J. Reilly (1889-1945) was the founding pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Queens Village. Born in Brooklyn, Reilly settled in Queens Village after repeated stays in Europe for religious study and war duty during World War I. This square honors the memory of his service both in the local community and as a war chaplain. Read more...
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This park, is named for Frank Frontera (1858–1952), an immigrant who realized the American dream in the community of Maspeth. Frontera emigrated from Italy and settled in Maspeth with his wife and infant son in 1883. An active member of the community, Frontera served in the Volunteer Fire Department until the age of 91. The owner of a barber shop, Read more...
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This park honors Francis Lewis (1713-1802), an early American merchant, patriot, and co-signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Llandaff, Wales, Lewis became an orphan at a young age. He completed a merchant apprenticeship in London, then traveled to America in 1738. The entrepreneur established a successful trading company in both New York City and Philadelphia, and grew rich Read more...
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This playground is named after the Klein family farm that formerly occupied the land. In 1895, the Klein family purchased the land bounded by 73rd Avenue, 195th Street, and 196th Place, and moved from Brooklyn to Queens. The farm gradually expanded to include almost two hundred acres at its largest. In 1936, the family began selling parcels of land—a few Read more...
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Equity Park was the 250th playground built in New York City under the direction of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888-1981). Throughout his tenure in office, Moses opened as many as 15 playgrounds in a day, increasing the number of such spaces in the city from 119 to 777. This prolific expansion began with 71 new playgrounds opening in 1935, with Read more...
