Alley Pond Park
Alley Pond Park | |
---|---|
Douglaston and Bayside in New York City | |
Coordinates | 40°45′30″N 73°44′50″W / 40.75833°N 73.74722°W |
Area | 655.294 acres (265.188 ha) |
Operated by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
Status | Operating |
Parking | 200 spaces |
Alley Pond Park is the second-largest public park in
Alley Pond Park was mostly acquired and cleared by the city in 1929, as authorized by a resolution of the
History
Site
What is now Alley Pond Park was once home to the
On the west side of the valley, William Douglas (the namesake of the
Despite the valley's commercial center and light industrial uses that dated back to Hicks' and Hedges' mills, the area remained agricultural and largely unspoiled into the 20th century. In 1908, as motorists sought attractive areas for expeditions, William Kissam Vanderbilt built his privately run Long Island Motor Parkway through the area.[8]
Founding and early history
By the 1920s, with open space becoming less plentiful, the City of New York began setting aside land for parks. Queens borough president Maurice E. Connolly wrote a letter to the city in 1927, suggesting that the tributary of the Little Neck Bay south of Northern Boulevard could be acquired for one such park called Alley Park.[9] His successor Bernard M. Patten also supported the purchase of the land,[10] and Douglaston civics groups argued in favor of the park.[11] After the New York City Board of Estimate passed a resolution in 1927 to allow the acquisition of parkland, the city acquired the Alley site for such purposes on June 24, 1929. Later that year, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) expanded the park into a 330-acre (130 ha) landscape surrounding the Alley and removed some older structures, including the Burhman store. After this acquisition had been approved, Mayor James J. Walker declared that "there is no better site in Queens" for a park.[1] NYC Parks acquired Oakland Lake for Alley Pond Park in 1934.[6]
NYC Parks then began work on converting the park for public use. The northern section of the land became a nature preserve. In the southern section, a field house and numerous sports fields for soccer, baseball, tennis, and hockey were built.
Recreation and pollution
After the 1930s, NYC Parks had focused more on recreation in Alley Pond Park than on the park's conservation.[1] NYC Parks filled in much of the valley's marshlands to construct recreational facilities and roads, namely the Cross Island Parkway and Long Island Expressway. The construction of the Cross Island Parkway resulted in the park's namesake pond being reduced in size. By 1954, when the Long Island Expressway was built, Alley Pond was infilled to create the interchange between the two highways;[15] the expressway opened in 1957[16] The center portion of the park, surrounding Alley Creek, was not developed through the mid-20th century and was considered an "eyesore".[15] A 1959 proposal to add 91 acres (37 ha) along the bay to Alley Pond Park was controversial among Douglaston landowners, who wanted the land to be used for a commercial amusement center.[17] The related legislation was rejected almost unanimously by the New York City Council, with only the two representatives of borough president John T. Clancy voting in favor of the expansion.[18]
The Oakland Golf Club disbanded in 1952 but served as a city-operated course until 1961, after which it was developed into the
Conservation
By the 1960s, civic groups were advocating for Alley Pond Park's restoration. Two thousand people participated in the first "Walk in the Alley" in 1969, led by Queensborough Community College dean John O. Riedl.[25][26] Local groups also argued for the preservation of Alley Pond and Cunningham Parks.[27] The city's park system was in various states of disrepair by the 1970s, with a maintenance building at Alley Pond Park having burned down.[28] NYC Parks also cut staffing at numerous parks: though Alley Pond Park was maintained by 17 workers in 1970, that number decreased to 11 in 1972.[29] The agency commenced the Wetlands Reclamation Project in 1974 to rehabilitate the park's natural wetlands.[1] NYC Parks also dredged the creek, leveled surrounding areas to eliminate standing water, cleaning three freshwater springs and two freshwater ponds, landscaping paths and trails, and building sound-reducing berms on Northern Boulevard.[22] In addition, some of the park's tennis courts were renovated.[30]
The Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), founded in 1972, moved to its own building on Northern Boulevard four years later.
A proposal to renovate the interchange between the Cross Island Parkway and Long Island Expressway was announced in 1995, leading conservationists to raise concerns over the potential removal of trees.
Geography
At 655.3 acres (265.2 ha), Alley Pond Park is the second-largest public park in Queens, behind
Waterways
Alley Creek
Alley Creek flows northward through the valley within which the park is located, emptying into Little Neck Bay. Alley Creek is surrounded by some of the last remaining old-growth forest in Queens.
Ponds
In addition to Alley Creek, there are seven ponds in Alley Pond Park, all of which are kettle ponds. These ponds are Alley Pond, Cattail Pond, Lily Pad Pond, Little Alley Pond, Muskrat Pond, Turtle Pond, and Windmill Pond.[8]
Little Alley Pond is located near the Grand Central Parkway and is the southernmost pond in the park. Turtle, Lily Pad, and Decodon Ponds are located slightly to the north;
Oakland Lake
The westernmost part of the park, south of 48th Avenue between Springfield Boulevard to the west and Cloverdale Boulevard to the east, includes Oakland Lake, a larger kettle pond on the grounds of the former Oakland Golf Club (now the Queensborough Community College campus). It is fed by natural springs, and prior to the development of eastern Queens, was fed by a stream extending from the modern intersection of Horace Harding Expressway and 223rd Place.[5][6] Numerous species of bass, pickerel, and sunfish can be found in the lake, and fishing is allowed.[51] An urban legend speculated that the lake was 600 feet (180 m) deep with an underwater spring flowing to Little Neck Bay, but a 1969 study of the lake found it was only 20 feet (6.1 m) deep.[6][52]
Oakland Lake was officially used as a water source from the mid-19th century likely into the 1950s. The brook leading to the lake was channelized and later infilled in the 1930s, and the wetlands were partially infilled in 1941.[6] After deterioration in the late 20th century due to increasing urbanization, it was restored in 1987 and 2011. A boardwalk circling Oakland Lake is named after Gertrude Waldeyer, who led the 1980s preservation campaign for the lake.[6][35] The area surrounding Oakland Lake also contains Queens' first "bluebelt" system, created in 2011, in which runoff flows through natural-looking landscapes rather than through storm sewers.[35][53]
Wetlands and meadows
The northern end of Alley Pond Park includes 150 acres (61 ha) of freshwater and saltwater wetlands. Freshwater from further inland mixes with the saltwater from Little Neck Bay. These wetlands host a complex ecosystem with numerous bird and fish species.[47] The John Riedl Wildflower Meadow, named after the Queensborough Community College dean, is located on both sides of Northern Boulevard. It was named in Riedl's honor in 1994 and contains ox-eyed daisies, grey birch, and pitch pine.[26]
Features
Alley Pond Environmental Center
The Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) was founded in 1972 by Joan and Hy Rosner as a grassroots organization that advocated for the park.[15][54] The APEC building, on the south side of Northern Boulevard, was announced in 1975 as part of a series of improvements across Queens.[55] The building opened in 1976 and contains a library, museum and animal exhibits.[1][31] By 2011, it had eight staff members and 1,000 volunteers, and its programs had served over 62,000 students.[54]
Queens Giant
The Queens Giant (also known as the Alley Pond Giant or Alley Pond Park Giant), at 40°45′12″N 73°44′49″W / 40.75320°N 73.74708°W, is an old
The Queens Giant is hidden within a grove, barely visible from the westbound Long Island Expressway.[3] The tree is near the Douglaston Plaza Mall, and is accessible by foot from Alley Pond Park. The tree can be viewed by entering the park at Horace Harding Expressway and East Hampton Boulevard, a small plaque at this entrance describes the tree and it's history and significance.[60] The Queens Giant is surrounded by a metal fence on all sides to protect it, and a hill and a sign describing the tree stand in front of it.[57]
Recreation
Alley Pond Park contains numerous sports fields. The northern section of the park near Cloverdale Boulevard and Horatio Parkway contains Horatio Playground as well as a baseball field, a basketball court, and two handball courts. The central section, at 67th Avenue between 230th and 233rd Streets, contains Alley Playground as well as a baseball field, a basketball court, and four handball courts. Springfield Boulevard between 73rd and 76th Avenues, at Alley Pond Park's southwestern corner, has five baseball fields and a soccer field, as well as restrooms and a picnic area. The area northwest of the intersection between the Cross Island and Grand Central Parkways contains a barbecue area, a picnic area, a football field, two baseball fields, four handball fields, and Alley Springfield Playground.[50][61] South of the Grand Central Parkway is the Alley Athletic Playground, with five baseball fields, a cricket/football field, a soccer field, a handball court, numerous batting cages, and a playground.[62]
Alley Pond Park also has numerous hiking and walking trails.[50] There are six named trails, which range from 0.7 to 2.2 miles (1.1 to 3.5 km). These are the Red, Orange, Blue, White, Yellow, and Tulip Tree trails; all except the Yellow and Tulip Tree trails are on the southern side of the park, south of the Long Island Expressway.[63]
Alley Pond Adventure Course
The Alley Pond Adventure Course is at the southern end of the park. Opened in 2007,[3] the course contains a climbing wall, a ropes course, a trust fall area, a zip line, swings, and balance platforms.[64][65] The ropes courses extend up to 45 feet (14 m) above ground.[3]
Alley Pond Golf Center
The Alley Pond Golf Center is east of the Northern Boulevard bridge over Alley Creek. The golf center has operated since the 1950s and has 70 stalls.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Alley Pond Park Highlights". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Foster House". Queens Library. June 10, 2007. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kadinsky 2016, p. 145.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7385-5681-9. Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c Kadinsky 2016, p. 148.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Oakland Lake". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c Kadinsky 2016, p. 144.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Patten to Back Alley Park Buy; Price is $472,000". Brooklyn Times-Union. May 9, 1928. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- ^ "Douglaston Aids Civics Plea for Alley Pond Park". Brooklyn Times-Union. May 19, 1927. p. 57. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- ^ "Alley Pond Recreation Field Ready for Opening in June". Brooklyn Times-Union. April 8, 1935. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Kadinsky 2016, p. 146.
- from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Kadinsky 2016, p. 149.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Nassivera, Joan (March 16, 1977). "Suit Filed to Burst Alley Pond Net Bubble". New York Daily News. p. 530. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Kadinsky 2016, p. 147.
- ^ a b "John Riedl Wildflower Meadow". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Lane, Robert (November 17, 1976). "Ecology Center in Douglaston Aims to Preserve Alley Park". New York Daily News. p. 618. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c Kadinsky 2016, p. 150.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ McGowan, Kathleen (November 25, 1997). "A plan for boro parks". New York Daily News. p. 81. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Harney, James (February 16, 2000). "Major LIE upgrading agreed on". New York Daily News. p. 2000. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via newspapers.com .
- ^ "Press Release Archives – Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani Announce Long Island Expressway Plan to Improve Alley Pond Park and Motorist Safety". Archives of the Mayor's Press Office. February 7, 2000. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala (January 29, 2004). "State dredges Alley Pond for highway renovations". QNS.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Bagcal, Jenna (December 23, 2019). "Alley Pond Environmental Center gets new building and announces temporary home in Oakland Gardens". QNS.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Torres, Kristen (December 30, 2019). "Alley Pond Environmental Center to Get a New Building, Moving to Temporary Home in Oakland Gardens". Forest Hills Post. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Alley Pond Environmental Center Reconstruction". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Alley Pond Environmental Center Reconstruction : NYC Parks". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Alley Pond Park Highlights – Freshwater Wetlands in New York City". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ a b Kadinsky 2016, p. 143.
- ^ "Forever Wild". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Alley Pond Park Hiking Trails". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Oakland Lake". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ Kadinsky, Sergey (May 23, 2019). "Oakland Lake, Bayside". Forgotten New York. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Alley Pond Park News – DEP, Parks Department Complete Improvement Project For Oakland Lake Park". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Bockmann, Rich (November 19, 2011). "Alley Pond Environmental Center saved wetlands". QNS.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Meet the Queens Giant: New York City's Oldest Resident". ny1.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Field and Court Usage Report for Alley Pond Park". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Alley Athletic Playground". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Alley Pond Park" (PDF). New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ Chan, Melissa (May 11, 2013). "Alley Pond Park Adventure Course now open". QNS.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Orientation and Team Building Activities : Alley Pond Park Adventure Center". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- Kadinsky, Sergey (2016). Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs. New York, NY: Countryman Press. ISBN 978-1-58157-566-8.