Strack Pond facts for kids
Strack Pond is a special kettle pond located inside Forest Park in Queens, New York City. This pond has an interesting history, as it was once filled in and then brought back to life many years later.
Strack Pond is named after a young man from Woodhaven named Lawrence E. Strack. He was a brave soldier who sadly died during the Vietnam War. The pond is found in a natural dip in the land, west of Woodhaven Boulevard and south of Forest Park Drive.
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The Pond's Name and History
For a long time, this pond didn't have an official name. It was just a local spot where kids played. In February 1969, it was officially named Strack Pond to honor Private First Class Lawrence E. Strack.
Who Was Lawrence E. Strack?
Lawrence Strack grew up in Woodhaven, a neighborhood very close to the pond. He used to ice skate on the pond when it froze in winter. In the summer, he played baseball in the Rich-Haven Little League, which included children from Woodhaven and Richmond Hill.
In 1966, Lawrence joined the army as a paratrooper. He briefly came home to marry his childhood sweetheart. Sadly, on March 3, 1967, during a combat parachute jump in Vietnam, PFC Strack was killed in a fierce firefight. Naming the pond after him was a way to remember his sacrifice.
From Baseball Field to Nature Preserve
After the pond was named, the area was used by the Rich-Haven Little League for many years. However, the spot often flooded, even after just a little rain. This made it hard to use for sports for much of the year.
In 1966, the pond was actually buried and turned into a dry area. But four decades later, people realized how important this natural space was. In May 2004, the restored Strack Pond was officially opened to the public. It became a three-acre nature preserve, complete with a walking trail that leads down to the water.
Protecting Strack Pond
Work to clean up the pond started again in 2019. There have been ideas for a bigger renovation, including adding a patio, but these plans are still waiting for funding. The goal is to keep Strack Pond a beautiful and important natural area for everyone to enjoy.
