Van Nest Playground in the Van Nest Section of the Bronx, August
2015. “In August of 1913, the City of New York acquired the parcel of
land, bounded by White Plains Road, Unionport Road, and Mead Street, on
which [a World War I monument] now sits. In
April of 1922 the land was placed under Parks jurisdiction. By 1934, the
triangular area around the monument contained Norway maple trees and a
flagpole, all of which have subsequently been removed. In addition to the
monument in honor of fallen soldiers, the park also contains playground
equipment, installed after a parcel of land was added in 1938 to expand the
park for the Van Nest community. Tributes to fallen soldiers of World War
II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars were added to the facade of the
monument.“[1]
From this text we know that work was done on this park by the Parks Department between 1934 and 1938, and therefore New Deal design, labor, and/or funding were involved[2].
References:
- Van Nest Park, New York City Department of Parks website.
- New Deal Assistance in NYC Parks Department Projects, 1934-43.
|
The New Deal in
NYC 1932-1943 |
Frank da Cruz |
fdc@columbia.edu
|