L E H A V R E
N E W S
9
S E P T E M B E RA Visit to Bowne Park
WWW.QNS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2020 | LEHAVRE COURIER 9
If you’ve never been to Bowne Park, it’s really easy
to get to: Just drive down Utopia Parkway to 32nd
Avenue, hang a right and you’ll be there in no time.
It’s a great place for a quick (and not too long) walk.
It takes up less than 12 acres of land, which is tiny by
New York park standards. But one of its special features
is its pond, which is a lovely setting for a quiet
escape on a sunny morning.
Le Havre resident Helene Oelerich did just that when
she recently stopped by the park. Always the avid photographer,
she couldn’t help but capture some beautiful
pictures of our fine feathered friends. Here she shares
her beautiful photos from her visit. Thanks, Helene!
ABOUT BOWNE PARK
This Flushing park is bounded by 29th and 32nd
Avenues and by 155th and 159th Streets. It is named
in honor of Walter Bowne (1770-1846), a descendant
of John Bowne (known for Flushing’s Bowne House).
Walter served as a New York State Senator and as
New York City Mayor from 1828 until 1832, and his
summer residence stood on what is now park property
until March 1925, when fire destroyed the building.
The NYC Parks Department acquired the land shortly
thereafter in June 1, 1925, by condemnation.
On June 10, 1969, Bowne Park made headlines
as the first NYC park with an “instant playground.”
This creation, developed by Mayor John V. Lindsay
and Parks Commissioner August Heckscher, provided
ready-made modular playground equipment to
communities lacking adequate recreational facilities.
Donated anonymously, Bowne Park's units consisted
of eight-sided colorful fiberglass play-cubes.
In 1994, Bowne Park underwent an extensive
$800,000 renovation funded by the late Queens
Borough President Claire Schulman. The renovated
park offers recreation for all age groups; it boasts a
bocce court surrounded by benches and tables, modern
playground equipment, slides, swings, a spray shower,
and basketball courts.
The parkhouse, crowned by a weather vane, includes
a community room that doubles as a nursery. Beautiful
bench-lined walkways provide space for relaxing. Two
weeping willows, measuring nearly fifty feet in height,
lie adjacent to the pond. In addition, American Elms
and Oaks shade the park during the summer months
with their wide canopies.
The park also features a pond that is home to families
of turtles. A cement turtle, set atop the rolling hills
overlooking the pond, stands guard above his more
lively counterparts as they navigate the waters below.
The community has always been active in the affairs
of Bowne Park. The Bowne Park Civic Association
has remained true to its motto, "A Better Community
through Civic Action," by maintaining relevant historic
documents and providing a center for information
and action.
In fact, the Bowne Park Civic Association has posted
the following caution about feeding the ducks and
swans that inhabit the park’s grounds: Don’t feed them
bread! Bread is actually bad for them, and it’s much
better to feed them lettuce, peas and sweetcorn. Who
knew?
/WWW.QNS.COM
