Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza facts for kids

Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza is a special park area in Brooklyn, New York. It's about three-quarters of an acre in size, which is like a small soccer field. You can find it where Fort Hamilton Parkway, 58th Street, and 10th Avenue meet in the Borough Park neighborhood. This plaza is a quiet spot that honors local heroes.

What is Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza?

This plaza is a unique triangular space. Back when Borough Park was first planned, streets were laid out in a straight grid. But Fort Hamilton Parkway cuts through this grid diagonally. This created some small, leftover triangle-shaped areas that were too tiny to build houses or stores on. So, these spots became public plazas, like Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza. It's right next to the schoolyard of Public School 105, which is also known as The Blythebourne School. Blythebourne was an old name for the Borough Park area.

How the Plaza Got Its Name

In 1952, a local politician named Arthur A. Low, who was a City Councilman, suggested that this triangle be named the Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza. This was done to remember two local residents, John Bocchino and Alfred Dente. They were brave soldiers who sadly lost their lives during World War II.

A group called the American Legion, which is an organization for military veterans, strongly supported the renaming. Their local branch was even named the Bocchino-Dente Post 1777. The plan to name the plaza was officially made into a law on May 15, 1952, after the mayor of New York signed it. This plaza helps everyone remember the sacrifices made by these two heroes and others during the war.