Silver Lake, Staten Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silver Lake
Neighborhood of Staten Island
A postcard showing the northern half of Silver Lake
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
County/Borough	Staten Island
ZIP code	10301
Area code(s)	718, 347, 929, and 917

Silver Lake is a special place on Staten Island, a part of New York City. It's known for two things: a large reservoir (a place where water is stored) and a nearby neighborhood.

History of Silver Lake

Silver Lake Park is located on the north side of Staten Island. It's surrounded by streets like Forest Avenue and Victory Boulevard. The original Silver Lake was a natural pond. It was formed a very long time ago, at the end of the ice age. This old pond is now the southern part of the reservoir you see today.

Early Days and Names

Long ago, Silver Lake was also called Fresh Pond. But by the mid-1800s, people started using the name Silver Lake more often. By 1860, Silver Lake was the main name. The lake was named after Mark Silver. He started a group that helps people, called the Hebrew Free Burial Association. This group bought land that became the Silver Lake Cemetery. Many people who died in the terrible Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire are buried there.

Fun and Business on the Lake

In the 1800s, Silver Lake was a busy spot. There was a casino and a saloon (a type of restaurant/bar) by the lake. Companies even harvested ice from the lake to sell. People on Staten Island loved to go boating and ice skating there. In 1897, Silver Lake even hosted a big skating competition!

Creating Silver Lake Park

As Staten Island grew, people wanted more parks. It was hard and expensive for families to visit big parks in Manhattan or Brooklyn. So, in 1900, a writer named John De Morgan asked the government to create Silver Lake Park. He said that people needed places for fun and relaxation, especially for children.

De Morgan's request worked! The government created the Silver Lake Park Commission. They started buying land around the lake in 1901, 1902, and 1904. Then, they began turning the area into the park we know today.

The Reservoir and Water Supply

Around 1913, refrigeration became popular, so people didn't need ice harvested from the lake anymore. The lake was then drained and turned into a working reservoir. This was part of a big project to bring water to New York City from the Catskill Mountains.

In 1917, the Silver Lake Reservoir was filled with water from the Ashokan Reservoir, which is about 119 miles away. It became the largest body of fresh water on Staten Island. The park was also improved with new plants and trees.

The Golf Course and Hidden History

In 1924, land from an old cemetery called Marine Cemetery was added to the park. This cemetery was for people who died from diseases after arriving in the United States. In 1928, this land was turned into a golf course.

Later, in 1994, researchers found out that thousands of immigrants, including many Irish people escaping the Great Famine of Ireland, might be buried under the 18th hole of the golf course. They had died from contagious diseases.

The golf course was finished in 1929. More fun things were added to Silver Lake Park, like tennis courts, biking paths, softball fields, and playgrounds. It became a popular place for everyone. The reservoir was used for drinking water until 1971. Now, it helps manage the water drainage system for huge underground tanks.

Recent Improvements

In 1988, Staten Island Borough President Ralph J. Lamberti provided money for a new building and a play area for kids. Later, in 1997, Borough President Molinari gave more money to fix walkways, add new plants, benches, and improve play equipment and handball courts.

What You Can Find at Silver Lake

Silver Lake Park has many cool things to do! You can find:

• Tennis courts
• An 18-hole public golf course
• A baseball field
• A play area for kids
• A dog run

The neighborhood near the park has several large apartment buildings and three cemeteries. There are also quiet streets above Forest Avenue and Hart Boulevard. These streets are part of the Silver Lake Park Association. At the top of Hart Boulevard, you'll find the Silver Lake Tennis Courts and a baseball field.

Silver Lake is located near other Staten Island neighborhoods like Grymes Hill and Sunnyside.

Getting Around Silver Lake

You can get to Silver Lake using several NYC buses. Local and limited buses include the S48, S61, S62, S66, S91, S92, S98. There's also an express bus, the SIM30.