After being under the ownership of various men, the landmass now called Roosevelt Island came under the ownership of Robert Blackwell in 1688. Then, it became his namesake—

<www.octagonnyc.com>

Blackwell Island. In 1828, the City of New York bought this two-mile-long-island for $32,000. Initially, it served as a center for castaways and necessitated a formal penitentiary, which was established in 1832.

The most influential architect of the time was Alexander Jackson Davis. He designed the Blackwell Island penitentiary, which was constructed of gray granite reflecting feudal-style architecture with its fortress or castle-like appearance. It stood six hundred feet long and four stories high at the north end of the island providing 800 cells for inmates. Just seven years after its grand opening though, the New York City Lunatic Asylum, as it was named, housed 1,700 patients. The 800 cells of the penitentiary were subsequently filled to the brim. Finally in the early 1900s, journalist Nelly Bly exposed the unacceptable conditions of the asylum—inmate

<www.octagonnyc.com>

overcrowding, favoritism, and drug dealing—which prompted much needed social reforms.

The plans to clean up the penitentiary and update and revive the island’s castaway-characteristic resulted in its name change from Blackwell’s Island to Welfare Island in 1921. The first step to reform was the transfer of inmates from Blackwell’s to Rikers Island, which, in reality, did not happen until further outrages in the 1930s absolutely necessitated it. The man who administered reform was Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Since the age of 17, LaGuardia had an accomplished career in public service beginning with his membership to the US Consulate Service in Europe. Among other achievements, the New York University Law School graduate was elected as mayor in 1933 on a “fusion ticket” against Tammany Hall—a bipartisan electoral agreement to temporarily set aside differences in order to achieve a common goal. To aid in the distribution and transfer of inmates, LaGuardia’s Reform Correction Commission, headed by Austin H. MacCormick, led a raid

<www.octagonnyc.com>

on the penitentiary in January 1934 to expose and eradicate those conditions Bly discussed. The result, in fact, was the movement of all inmates to new facilities on Rikers Island, which had just completed construction. The only surviving portion of the former New York City Lunatic Asylum was the hospital wing, which was both influential and progressive at the time—the Metropolitan Hospital.

Throughout the years, various charity and public health institutions had been established on the land as well, which were useful and efficient. Though, toward the end of the 19^th century, the island’s institutions became abandoned and the population of the island decreased. After the island became unimaginably desolate, Major John Lindsay in 1968 “appointed a committee for redevelopment of Welfare Island.” The plan was incorporated into Governor Rockefeller’s General Development Plan of the New York State Urban Development Corporation the following year. John Burgee and Philip Johnson completed the new development design. In 1973, a ceremony was held in honor of the island’s soon-to-be renovations and rechristening under the name Roosevelt Island after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The following years, during the 1970s, residential complexes were built, as well as a memorial park, aerial Tramway, and a subway station.

Today, that same octagonal, gray building located at 888 Main Street on Roosevelt Island,

<www.octagonnyc.com>

which once was the New York City Lunatic Asylum, still stands. Developer Becker + Becker Associates transformed the facility in 2006, creating an upscale 500-unit residential community. Roosevelt Island The Octagon is a luxury building providing housing from studios to 3-bedroom penthouses. The original structure has been restored and updated dramatically and it is still a landmark site on Roosevelt Island today. According to a 2000 Census, Roosevelt Island has a population of 9,520 residents. Since then, two additional residential developments have been established. Those buildings provided 1,331 more units of residential space as of summer 2008. It was projected that 1,160 additional units of residential space are to be constructed by 2013. Roosevelt Island residencies are in high demand because of the island’s proximity to mainland Manhattan, its remarkably low crime rate, and its now quaint, tranquil, community-like qualities.

Bibliography

“A Brief History.” www.rioc.com. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York, Web. 25 Mar. 2012.

“Elected Mayors of New York City.” www.nyc.gov. Web. 25 Mar. 2012.

“History.” The Octagon. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <www.octagonnyc.com>.

McCarthy, Thomas. “Before Rikers, Blackwell’s was DOC’s Island Home.” correctionhistory.org. Correction News, Web. 18 Mar. 2012.

“The Octagon Tower.” rihs.us. Roosevelt Island Historical Society, Web. 18 Mar. 2012.

Rodriguez-Nava, Gabriel. “The Rise of a Healthy Community.” Beyond Manhattan. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <www.nyc24.org>.

          I chose Central Park for my “Then and Now” blog post because it is one of the few places in New York that has largely remained constant throughout the years.  While people, places, and things have come and gone throughout the city, many areas within Central Park look just as they did over a century-and-a-half ago.  Central Park allows visitors to travel to any time period between the present and its creation.  The rock you lay upon today has been laid upon by countless people before you, and they very likely gazed upon the same field or grove of trees.

          In 1857 Frederick Law Olmsted’s proposal was the winner of a design contest for the layout of the park.  By the mid 1860s, millions were visiting the park each year.  Attractions, including concerts, the carousel, tennis, bicycling, and the ever popular Central Park Zoo brought more and more visitors to the park throughout the rest of the nineteenth century.

          The twentieth century was a dynamic one for Central Park.  Central Park’s famous Great Lawn was once a large rectangular reservoir.  Not long after the stock market crashed, the reservoir was drained as the City no longer wished to maintain it.  Plans for its re-purposing slowed and thus a large empty basin was left.  “Hoovervilles” sprang up in place of the reservoir.  Said one man regarding his shack, “We work hard to keep it clean, because that is important.  I never lived like this before.”  In 1932, the Parks Department referred to the emptied reservoir as Hoover Valley.  The New York Times states that “As the Depression set in, public sentiment became more sympathetic. In July 1931 a judge suspended the sentences of 22 unemployed men sleeping in Central Park — apparently in various locations — and gave each one $2 out of his own pocket.”

          In 1934, Robert Moses took charge of the City’s parks, acquired federal funds, and “built 20 playgrounds on the park’s periphery, renovated the Zoo, realigned the drives to accommodate automobiles, added athletic fields to the North Meadow, and expanded recreational programming.”  These were lasting amendments to the park that still exist today.

          The Central Park Conservancy was formed by a group of concerned New Yorkers after the park, like much of the city, went through a period of great decline in the 1970s.    They now handle the majority of the parks operations, and are mostly privately funded.  Today the park is constantly being maintained and refurbished and remains a free alternative for New Yorkers, even during times of financial distress.

Sources:

1) http://www.centralparknyc.org/

2) http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/29/realestate/streetscapes-central-park-s-hooverville-life-along-depression-street.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm

3) http://www.centralpark.com/guide/history.html

Originally known as the Central Park Menagerie, the Central Park Zoo began to form in the late 1850’s when various citizens and circuses started to donate animals to the city. The zoo underwent two transformations. The first was in 1934 under the supervision of Robert Moses, the second in 1988 (the Wildlife Conservation Society). The zoo has changed drastically since its opening in terms of the animals exhibited, as well as the condition of the animals and zoo.

"In its early form, the Menagerie at Central Park submitted animals to questionable treatment, as evidenced by this 1911 photo of a trainer and a dog perched on top of an elephant. Source: 1911 Department of Parks Annual Report."

With the help of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, the city was able to address the less than satisfactory condition of the zoo animals. Robert Moses had taken a particular interest in improving the zoo due to his friendship with former Governor Al Smith. Smith loved animals and “missed the little zoo he had maintained behind the Executive Mansion in Albany” (Caro). He was appalled by the unsanitary conditions in which the animals lived and so Moses promised to improve them. A design team headed by Aymar Embury II drew out plans for the six-acre zoo in sixteen days, and the construction was completed within eight months. The project was accomplished with the help of Works Progress Administration labor.

Moses made it clear that he did not want the zoo to be an “animal museum.” Instead, he wanted a child friendly zoo, a “picture-book zoo,” as it were. When it reopened on December 2, 1934, twelve thousand invited guests filled the stands while an additional twenty-five thousand lined Fifth Avenue, hoping to be admitted. Alfred Smith was designated honorary zookeeper that day, and was given a key to the zoo. He often took advantage of it, even referring to himself as the zoo’s “night superintendent.”

"A large crowd gathered for the opening of the reopening of the Menagerie at Central Park, December 2, 1934. Photo by Alajos Schuszler; courtesy of the Parks Photo Archive, Neg. 4602."

Unfortunately, over time “no amount of love and attention could save the zoo from falling into disrepair, and the zoo became what many found to be a squalid place” (Parks & Recreation). Tenants along Fifth Avenue complained about the noise and smells and many cages were unfilled in the zoo. The zoo was even referred to as a “Rikers Island for animals” by Parks Commissioner Gordon Davis. In 1980, the management was assumed by the New York Zoological Society (now the Wildlife Conservation) which transformed the zoo between 1983 and 1988 (a $35 million project). There was talk of converting the space into an insect zoo, or even a farm for children to interact with domestic animals. However, neither plan was put into effect. Eventually, many large animals were removed from the zoo due to the fact that it was only six acres (miniscule compared to the national average of fifty-two). Individuals felt that it was inhumane to keep such large animals under the circumstances. The remainder of the large animals were given more space. The zoo could no longer boast of zebras, bears, elephants, and the like. Fortunately, the polar bear and sea lion exhibits endured.

"The invitation to the Central Park Zoo reopening on August 8, 1988."

The most drastic change during this renovation was the removal of cages, an effort to make the zoo “barless.” In this way, the Society was able to organize the animals by biomes, separating them into tropical, temperate, and polar. The polar bear and sea lion exhibits were expanded during this transformation, and a Japanese snow monkey island was created. Many buildings that remained changed their function; for example, the Bird House was converted into the Zoo Gallery and Gift Shop, and the Monkey House became the Zoo School and event space. Additionally, for the first time in the city’s history the zoo began to charge an admission ($1 for adults and $0.25 for children). Today those numbers are $12 and $7, respectively.

The sea lion pool was constructed at the center of the zoo during the 1934 construction, expanded in the 80’s, and continues to exist to this day. Today, it is one of the main attractions at the zoo, with sea lion feedings three times a day. Crowds gather around, men hoisting their young daughters and sons on their shoulders, older children circulating the pool hoping to get a better look at the animals. Another installment that remains are the eight eagles surrounding the pool (which were added in 1941). These eagles appear to have belonged to the façade of the original Penn Station but in actually were taken from the overpass in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

"Mayor Ed Koch feeds a sea lion at the reopening of the Central Park Zoo, August 8, 1988. Photo, courtesy of the Parks Photo archive, by Simon Benepe."

Sea Lion Pool, 2012

Most recently, the zoo introduced a new Snow Leopard exhibit. It is the first new exhibit to be added to the zoo since 1988. A $10.6 million installation, the exhibit houses three Snow Leopards. Try locating one, however. I have visited the zoo several times, and have been unlucky enough not to be able to catch a glimpse to date.

The zoo no longer boasts of a multitude of large animals as it did from its creation to the 1980’s. However, it remains a child friendly zoo, staying true to Robert Moses’ vision. It is a great place to spend any day, observing and learning more about the hundreds of species housed there. With the Central Park Zoo conveniently located right in the heart of our city, it would be a shame for any New Yorker to miss out on visiting.

1 Caro, Robert. “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.” New York: Vintage Books, 1975. 323-401.

2 “Central Park Zoo.” Central Park Zoo. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.centralparkzoo.com/>.

3 “Central Park Zoos.” : New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/zoos/central-park-zoo>.

4 Chan, Sewell. “In Central Park, Happy Birthday to Zoo.” City Room. The New York Times, 4 Aug. 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2012.<http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/in-central-park-happy-birthday-to-zoo/>.

5 Rosenweig, Roy, and Elizabeth Blackmar. “CentralParkHistory.com.”CentralParkHistory.com. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.centralparkhistory.com/timeline/timeline_1870_zoo.html>.

6 Rothstein, Edward. “Leopards in the Mist.” The New York Times, 12 June 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. < http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/nyregion/13snow.html>.

7 Scheier, Joan. “The Central Park Zoo (Images of America: New York).” The Central Park Zoo (Images of America: New York). Arcadia Publishing, 21 Aug. 2002. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.cpzbook.com/>.

Walking east from the 125th 8th Avenue Line station I can begin to make out the world- renowned marquee of the Apollo Theatre with the word “Apollo” spread vertically along the facade of the famed landmark. The Apollo Theatre is one of the oldest and culturally significant music halls in the United States. On that special occasion I was going to a rendition of wednesday “Amateur Night,” a longstanding tradition at the theatre whereby local talent come to grace the same stage where the likes of Elle Fitzgerald once performed on a regular basis.

Situated at 253 W. 125th St., the Apollo Theatre has been serving the largely African American neighborhood of Harlem since the mid 19th century. Originally founded as dancehall and ballroom by former Union General Edward Ferrero, the building changed ownership several times, until 1914, when it was converted into a burlesque theatre aptly named “Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theatre.” In 1934, it again changed ownership into the hands of Sidney Cohen and Morris Sussman. The new ownership decided to change the format of the theatre completely,  focusing on  African-American influenced entertainment. The change reflected the demographic of the changing neighborhood, and cut costs because African-Americans were much cheaper to hire.

The Apollo Theatre become one of the centerpieces of the Harlem Renaissance; a cultural and artistic movement of African-American expression which spanned between the Great World Wars. The theatre ignited the careers of great African-American entertainers such as Billie Holiday, James Brown, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, and many more. The theatre became emblematic of African-American pride and heritage, developing into a vivid symbol of the rich culture African-Americans possessed throughout the twentieth century.

The Apollo Theatre fell into a general decline during the 1960s and 70s, becoming a movie theatre in 1975. Though, it began to witness a revival when Inner City Broadcasting bought and reopened the theatre in 1983. Since then the theatre has seen a steady resurgence in popularity, and once again sees itself as one of the great cultural institutions of African-American entertainment. By 1991, the theatre had been recognized in the National Register of Historic Places, and was bought by New York State. This is what brought me to the theatre last week as I pushed my seat back and prepared for an evening of entertainment.

Work Cited

“Apollo Theatre History”. http://www.apollotheater.org/about/history

“Apollo Theater”, Britannica Online Encyclopedia, 2009

“National Register Information System”. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007

Jackson, Kenneth T, editor, The Encyclopedia of New York City, Yale University Press, p.40

Gramercy Theatre is located on the corner of East 23^rd street and Lexington Avenue right at the M23 stop. But, what changes has the theatre gone through since its creation by architect Charles A. Sandblom in 1937 (cinematreasures). I’m going to compare Gramercy Theatre, from the way I see today to the way it has been seen in the past.

Well the first thing I noticed as I look up at the sign for Gramercy Theatre is the name. Surely I thought the name hasn’t transformed much over time. But, I was wrong. It actually started out as The Gramercy Park Theatre (cinematreasures). So I wondered why change the name? What’s the difference? Well, turns out that there was another theatre that was actually called the Gramercy Theatre and they couldn’t have the same name so they added the word park. But, the original Gramercy Theatre closed down in 1947 because it couldn’t compete with television and Gramercy Park Theatre became the new Gramercy Theatre. (cinematreasures)

But, this wasn’t the only name change that Gramercy Theatre undertook, in 2007 Live Nation bought the theatre and renamed it. (last.fm) It was renamed Blender Theatre at Gramercy for Blender magazine and copies of some issues can be found framed inside the building (stubhub). However, by 2009 it had been renamed to ‘The Gramercy Theatre’, which is its standing name. (cinematreasures)

Secondly I realized the names of the bands performing written on the side and they for sure weren’t there when the theatre opened up in the Depression. So, turns out that originally Gramercy Theatre was a movie theatre. A movie theatre in the middle of the Depression just doesn’t seem like a smart business transaction, if the country is barely able to make ends meat there last trouble should be entertainment. Well that’s not the way president Franklin Roosevelt saw it. He said, “During the Depression, when the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time, it is a splendid thing that for just 15 cents an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles.” He was clearly correct because during the Great Depression, Hollywood was one of the only industries that were not suffering. (virginia.edu)

Throughout Gramercy Theatre’s existence,  it went through various changes, but it pretty much always served it’s primary service of being a place for the arts. However, it started failing as a theatre when a nine-screened theatre opened up in Chelsea and most of the people started heading over there. Because of this it closed down, but had brief moments where it came back and shut down again, with it’s final shut down being in 2004. However, then Live Nation bought it in 2006 it became a concert hall, mainly for upcoming rock and indie bands. (Thegramercytheatre)

So, Gramercy Theatre has seen a lot of changes from its creation in 1937. It has changed so much that if you would take someone from the 1930’s who has been to Gramercy Theatre and put him there today, lets just say he might have a heart attack when he hears the blasting Rock music instead of a pleasant movie.

Works Cited

Cinema Treasures. “Gramercy Theater.” Gramercy Theatre. Cinema Treasures. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6113>.

Cinema Treasures. “Gramercy Theater.” Gramercy Theatre. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/21781>.

“Hollywood in the Depression.” Hollywood in the Depression. Virginia.edu. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/film/hollywooddepression.html>.

Last.fm. “Blender Theater at GramercyNew York, NY, New York, United States.” Last.fm. Last.fm. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.last.fm/venue/8855557 Blender Theater at Gramercy>.

Stubhub. “Blender Theater at Gramercy.” Blender Theater At Gramercy New York Metro New York. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://venues.stubhub.com/venues/new-york/new-york-metro/blender-theater-at-gramercy/>.

Stubhub. “Gramercy Theatre.” Gramercy Theatre. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.stubhub.com/venue/gramercy-theatre/>.

TheGramercyTheatre. “The Gramercy Theatre Venue Information | Seating Chart.” Gramercy Theatre. Live Nation. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://thegramercytheatre.com/venue-information>.

When New York City gained ownership of the area now known as Bryant Park, city officials decided to turn the area into a potter’s field. In 1840, the potter’s field was transformed into a reservoir. The Croton Distributing Reservoir consisted of an artificial lake four acres in size and connected to the reservoir in Central Park. The entire aqueduct system transported water from upstate New York down to New York City. In 1846, the city funded the construction of a public park, Reservoir Park, next to the Croton Distributing Reservoir. However, Reservoir Park was demolished in 1900.

The area was renamed from Reservoir Square to Bryant Park in 1884. It was named after the late William Cullen Bryant. Construction on a Beaux-Arts style library situated next to the reservoir, designed by John Merven Carrére and Thomas Hastings, lasted from 1884 until 1911. Today, the library is the New York Public Library.

Bryant Park was not immune to the negative effects of the Great Depression. Because of the poor economic condition of the city, there was little money to support the upkeep of the park. Furthermore, its location “in the shadow of the ‘noisy, clanky, and utterly barbarous’ Sixth Avenue El train…[and] ‘newsstands that look like the shacks of squatters’ (“Bryant Park Blog: 20th Anniversary: Bryant Park in the 1930’s.”). One of the iconic images of Bryant Park during this era is one of New Yorkers lining up through the park, demonstrative of the severity of the poor economic status of New Yorkers during the Depression.

Despite the efforts of nearby private companies to pay for a renovation of the park, the plans failed, including one to host an series of musical performances in the park because “far too few of the city’s residents could afford the 25-cent admission fee” (“Bryant Park Blog: 20th Anniversary: Bryant Park in the 1930’s.”). In 1933, the newly formed Architects’ Emergency Committee held a contest to find the best new design for Bryant Park. 

The design of Bryant Park as we know it today was part of a rehabilitation project spearheaded by Robert Moses, who was the Commissioner of Parks at the time. Before Moses began the rejuvenation, the park was filled with “winding paths, broken up by small clumps of trees, and lined with wood and cast iron benches, common elements in the Victorian Era landscaping” (Kumer 2010). The area was much eerier than it is today, attracting a large crowd of “derelicts, drug dealers and drug users” (Goldberger 1992). 

Moses implemented Lusby Simpson’s design of “a classical scheme of a large central lawn, formal pathways, stone balustrades, allées of London Plane trees, and at the west end, an oval plaza containing the Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain” (“Bryant Park is born”). After the renovations were completed in 1934, Moses was praised for “the attractive plan [he] adopted for the rehabilitation of Bryant Park (“Moses is commended on Bryant Park plan”). In the 1930’s, Works Progress Administration employees worked as librarians at the New York Public Library. There, they helped bring books outside for patrons to read on the terrace.

http://blog.bryantpark.org/2012/04/20th-anniversary-bryant-park-in-1930s.html

Simpson’s design, however, made the park very closed off and isolated, unlike the park we know today. Between the time of its opening and the 1980’s, the Bryant Park area drastically declined and became a hub for dangerous activity. In 1982, Bryant Park underwent another renovation to make the space more inviting and business friendly. Many of the changes implemented in that renovation still exist today, such as the unrestricted entrances and refreshment stands (“Bryant Park”). The Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, the local business improvement district, manages the public park.

Although not much has changed in Bryant Park since its most recent renovation, it has certainly changed since it was a reservoir in the 1800’s. Today, Bryant Park is a social hub. It attracts tourists and New York City natives alike with the Citi Pond ice skating rink during the winter to the free music concerts in the summer and a plethora of activities in between. To an extent, the Bryant Park we know and enjoy today grew from the efforts the people of the Great Depression.

Picture taken by Megan Chiu

Bibliography

“Bryant Park – Great Public Spaces | Project for Public Spaces (PPS).” Project for Public Spaces – Placemaking for Communities. http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=26 (accessed May 14, 2012).

“Bryant Park – History.” New York State Unified Court System. http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/webdocs/Bryant_Park_History.htm (accessed May 12, 2012).

“Bryant Park Blog: 20th Anniversary: Bryant Park in the 1930’s.” Bryant Park Blog. http://blog.bryantpark.org/2012/04/20th-anniversary-bryant-park-in-1930s.html (accessed May 13, 2012)

“Bryant Park Blog: From the Archives: The 1934 Moses Renovation of Bryant Park.” Bryant Park Blog. http://blog.bryantpark.org/2010/11/from-archive-1934-moses-renovation-of.html (accessed May 12, 2012).

“Bryant Park | Bryant Park is born.” Bryant Park. http://www.bryantpark.org/about-us/born.html (accessed May 13, 2012).

Goldberger, Paul. “ARCHITECTURE VIEW; Bryant Park, An Out-of-Town Experience – New York Times.” The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/03/arts/architecture-view-bryant-park-an-out-of-town-experience.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm (accessed May 14, 2012).

Astoria Park, on the west shore of Queens, extends from south of the Triborough Bridge to north of the Hell Gate Bridge. The history of the park begins in October 1913, when the park was called the William J. Garner Park. In December of that year, it was renamed to Astoria Park. At the beginning of the park’s history, the surrounding Astoria area was occupied by mostly Irish and Italian immigrants. After the boom of Greek immigrants in the 1960s, Astoria park became a cultural center for Greek and Italian people.

The new facility was equipped with two playgrounds, six tennis courts, an athletic field, three baseball diamonds, a wading pool, bandstand, comfort station and walks throughout. In 1926 community members gathered to dedicate the Astoria Park Memorial in tribute to the sons of Long Island City who died in World War I. Major improvements in Astoria Park were undertaken by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses and the Works Progress Administration during the summer of 1936. The stunning pool complex opened on July 4 of that year and hosted the swimming and diving trials for the U.S. Olympic Teams in 1936 and 1964.

The 56-acre park was expanded twice. Parks acquired  two pieces of land: a 4.5-acre parcel beneath the Triborough Bridge in 1937 and a 5-acre strip (known as Ralph DeMarco Park) along the East River in 1969. A three-part project renovated the park in the 1980s, which included fixing the parks facilities (playgrounds, park fields, drainage systems), installing new equipment (swings, fountains, game tables), and repaving all the roads and walkways. The warm and friendly setting of Astoria Park remains rich in history and symbolic of the constantly changing culture of New York City.

Astoria park has a wide variety of different facilities. Facilities such as bathrooms, water fountains, and playgrounds are standard for all parks. Astoria park, however, also has skate parks, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, running tracks, spray showers, fitness equipment, tennis and bocce courts, and dog runs.

Sources:

City of New York Parks and Restoration: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/AstoriaPark/history