Linden Park (Queens) facts for kids

Linden Park, also known as Park of the Americas, is a park that covers about 3 acres in the middle of the Corona neighborhood in Queens, New York City. This green space has been on maps since 1853, long before Corona became the busy neighborhood it is today.

Park History and Changes

The people living in Corona, which was called West Flushing before 1872, often used Linden Park for fun events like summer concerts. In 1893, a school was built right across from the park. This school later became known as P.S. 16.

A big change for Corona happened on April 21, 1917. This was when the New York City Subway's 7 <7> trains train line opened to the 103rd Street–Corona Plaza station. To celebrate this important event, local leaders and residents held a special concert in Linden Park that night.

Linden Lake: From Watering Hole to Playground

The park's most famous feature was once a natural lake called Linden Lake. It was fed by a spring and first used as a watering spot for farm animals in the village. As more people moved to the area, the lake became a popular place for ice-skating in the winter.

However, by the early 1900s, the lake started to be seen as a health concern. So, in 1912, the lake was drained and cleaned. All the mud and stones were taken out, and the bottom of the lake was paved with concrete. A fountain was also added in the middle. The newly restored lake was only 2 feet deep. This was done to make sure no one would drown if the ice was too thin for skating.

That same year, a memorial was put up for Hugo E. Kruse. He was a local person who died in the explosion of the USS Maine (ACR-1) ship in Havana, Cuba. This event helped start the Spanish–American War. When World War I began in 1917, memories of the Spanish-American War faded. Today, only a small plaque under the park's flagpole remembers the American fighters, including Kruse, who died in that war.

As more and more people used Linden Park, the lake was finally drained for good in 1947. In its place, a playground, a baseball field, and basketball courts were built. This changed the park from a quiet picnic spot into a lively area for sports and games.

Park Restoration and Renaming

In the 1970s, New York City faced money problems. During this time, Linden Park also had many issues. The baseball field often flooded, the playground was not safe, and there were problems with damage to the park.

Linden Park was given a new life in 1997. It received a new playground and exercise equipment. The flagpole was fixed, and small bushes were planted. In 2004, the baseball field got a special artificial turf. That same year, the city councilman for Corona, Hiram Monserrate, asked to change the park's name to Park of the Americas. This was to honor the many different people from Latin American countries who live in the neighborhood.

• Seyfried, Vincent F. (1986). Corona: From Farmland to City Suburb, 1650–1935. [New York]: Edgian Press.
• Wilkinson, Christina (December 4, 2005). "Corona, Crown of Queens". Forgotten New York. Retrieved August 14, 2015.