Pomonok, Queens facts for kids
Pomonok is a neighborhood in the Queens area of New York City. It's known for its large public housing area. This community was built in 1949 on what used to be the Pomonok Country Club. The name "Pomonok" comes from a Native American word. It means either "land of tribute" or "land where people travel by water." This name refers to the eastern part of Long Island.
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The Story of Pomonok
Before Pomonok was a neighborhood, it was home to the Pomonok Country Club. This club had a golf course that was open from 1886 to 1949. The golf course was located near Kissena Boulevard and 164th Street. It was also close to Queens College.
The club was started in 1886 by members of the Flushing Athletic Club. They moved to the Kissena Boulevard spot in 1921. A famous golf course designer named Devereux Emmet created the course. In 1949, the club members decided to close it down and sold the land.
Part of this land is now home to the Electchester cooperative housing. It also includes the Pomonok public housing and an extension of Parsons Boulevard. The golf course even hosted a big tournament called the PGA Championship in 1939. Henry Picard won that tournament. This event happened at the same time as the 1939 New York World's Fair. The fair was about 2 miles away in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.
Pomonok Today
Today, Pomonok is part of Queens Community Board 8. This community board also includes other neighborhoods like Fresh Meadows and Jamaica Estates.
Pomonok is close to many important places. These include Queens College and St. John's University. There are also several public and private schools nearby. The Queens Public Library has a branch right in Pomonok.
Electchester: A Special Community
Inside Pomonok, you'll find a unique place called Electchester. This is a special type of housing complex called a co-op. It's located at Jewel Avenue and Parsons Boulevard.
Electchester was started in 1949 by Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. and Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They bought 103 acres of the old Pomonok Country Club land. Then, they built apartment buildings for union members.
About 5,550 people live in Electchester. There are around 2,500 homes in 38 buildings. Many of these are six-story brick buildings. The union helped a lot with the money needed to build Electchester. New York state also offered tax breaks. Electchester even has its own public school, PS 200, built on land donated by the community.
Education in Pomonok
Pomonok and its surrounding areas offer many educational opportunities.
- Queens College
- St. John's University
- Touro College
- Rabbinical Seminary of America
There are also many public and private schools for younger students. The CUNY Law School used to be in this area. However, it moved to Long Island City in May 2012. The Queens Public Library has a branch in Pomonok, which is a great place for books and learning.
Getting Around Pomonok
It's easy to get around Pomonok and travel to other parts of New York City.
- Local Buses: New York City Bus routes Q25, Q34, Q64, Q65 serve the neighborhood.
- Express Buses: The QM4 runs express from Pomonok to Midtown Manhattan.
- Major Roads: The Whitestone Expressway connects Flushing to the Bronx. It also links to the Van Wyck Expressway, which goes to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The expressway also connects to the Grand Central Parkway and LaGuardia Airport.
- Shopping Streets: Main Street and Kissena Boulevard are busy streets with many shops and businesses.
Famous People from Pomonok
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Pomonok:
- Gary Ackerman (born 1942): He used to be a U.S. Representative for New York.
- Barry Grodenchik (born 1960): He is a council member for the New York City Council.
- Michael Simanowitz (1971–2017): He was a member of the New York State Assembly.
- Harry Van Arsdale Jr. (1905-1986): He was a leader in labor and civil rights. He was key in creating Electchester.
- Bob Weinstein (born 1954): A well-known film producer.
- Action Bronson (born 1983): A popular rapper and hip-hop artist.
