Elmhurst Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elmhurst Park |
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Looking toward the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial from Grand Avenue
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Elmhurst, Queens, New York City |
| Area | 6.22 acres (2.52 ha) |
| Created | May 24, 2011 |
| Operated by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Elmhurst Park |
Elmhurst Park is a 6.22-acre public park located in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. This park was built on the land where two giant natural gas storage tanks used to stand. These tanks were so big that they were often mentioned on radio traffic reports when the nearby Long Island Expressway got busy. Today, Elmhurst Park offers a green space for everyone to enjoy.
The park is surrounded by 57th Avenue and the Long Island Expressway to the south. To the north, you'll find Grand Avenue. On the west side is the CSX-operated Fremont Secondary train line, and 80th Street is on the east. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation owns and manages the park.
The Giant Gas Tanks
Before Elmhurst Park existed, this spot was home to two huge gas tanks. They were officially called the Newtown Holder Station. These tanks were built between 1910 and 1921. Their main job was to hold natural gas.
For many years, until the 1960s, an inspector would even use a small rowboat to check on the tanks! However, smaller gas cylinders became more common. Because of this, the company that owned them, Brooklyn Union Gas, started taking the tanks apart in 1996.
These massive gas holders were completely gone by 2001. People often heard "backup at the Elmhurst Gas Tanks" on traffic reports. This was because the nearby Long Island Expressway often got very crowded in that area.
Building Elmhurst Park
After the gas tanks were removed, plans began to turn the area into a park. Construction for the new park started in 2007. This big project cost about $20 million. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a key supporter of building the park.
Elmhurst Park officially opened its doors on May 24, 2011. It was built with modern features for visitors. These included comfy benches, good lighting, open lawns, and paths for jogging. The park also has a fun playground and more than 620 trees.
The park's bathrooms took a bit longer to open. They finally opened in September 2012. These restrooms were designed to be stylish and spacious. However, they caused some debate because they cost $2.3 million to build.
Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial
At the northeast corner of Elmhurst Park, you'll find the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This special memorial honors veterans of the Vietnam War. It cost $2.85 million to build.
Plans and fundraising for the memorial began in the mid-2000s. Construction finally started in December 2018. The memorial was officially opened the following December. It is shaped like a semicircle. On it are the names of 371 people from Queens who died while serving in the war.
