Astoria Park

Astoria Park, a convert|65.78|acre|m2|sing=on park located along the East River in the New York City borough of Queens, contains one of the largest open spaces in Queens. The park is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Situated in Astoria and adjacent to the Triboro Bridge, the park contains New York City's largest swimming pool. The pool, planned by Robert Moses, was used for qualifying events for the 1936 and 1964 Summer Olympics.

Other attractions include bocce courts, six tennis courts, two playgrounds, and one track for running. One of the playgrounds is named "Charybdis Playground"; it is across Hell Gate from Scylla Point on Ward's Island, with the two features having been named for Scylla and Charybdis of mythology. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/nyregion/thecity/29fyi.html?ex=1372392000&en=edd634e34bfa31bd&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink] On Independence Day, the Queens Symphony Orchestra plays in Astoria Park during the fireworks show.

According to the New York City Parks website:

Before the arrival of European colonists, a trail passed by the site, and an Indian village flourished at Pot Cove. Local inhabitants grew maize on the shores, fished in Hell Gate, and drew water from Linden Brook, a small stream that still flows under Astoria Park South. In the mid-1600s the Dutch parceled out this land to various owners, including William Hallet whose grant embraced hundreds of acres. During the American Revolution, several British and Hessian regiments were stationed in the area. On November 25, 1780 the frigate Hussar and its five-million-dollar cargo sank to the bottom of Hell Gate, where despite some removal of cannons, the treasure still remains. The waters were the site of New York City’s worst maritime disaster on June 15, 1904. En route to Long Island’s North Shore with the congregation of St. Mark’s German Lutheran Church on board, the steamer "General Slocum" caught fire. At least 1,021 passengers out of 1,300 burned to death on the ship or drowned in the turbulent waters of the East River before the ship grounded on North Brother Island.

External links

* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=8891 New York City Department of Parks and Recreation: Astoria Park]