Astoria Park in Queens, beneath the
segment of the Triborough Bridge that
connects Queens with Randall's Island.
The 56-acre park dates from 1913[1], but the 4.5-acre portion under the
Triborough was a 1937 addition when "major improvements in Astoria Park were
undertaken by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses and the Works Progress
Administration during a hot summer in 1936. The stunning pool complex
opened on July 4 of that year and hosted the swimming and diving trials for
the U.S. Olympic Teams in 1936 and 1964."[1] Besides the swimming pool,
various playgrounds and comfort stations were added or renovated during the
course of the New Deal using relief labor. I'll try to get better sources
later but clearly the WPA did a lot of work in Astoria Park, if only to
accommodate the Triborough Bridge and the new pool.
- Astoria Park History, NYC Parks Department website (accessed 27 June 2016).
|
The New Deal in
NYC 1932-1943 |
Frank da Cruz |
fdc@columbia.edu
|