Flushing Fields is a public park in the northern section of the Flushing neighborhood of

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. The site of this park was purchased by the Memorial Field of Flushing Corporation in 1921 at what was at the time open farmland. From its beginning, the park served as the home field for the softball, soccer, football and track teams from

Flushing High School Flushing High School is a four-year public high school in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education. As of the 2020–21 school year, the school had an enrollment of ...

. The name of the park and monument at its southern section honor residents of Flushing killed in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In 1930, the income generated by sports games at Memorial Field failed to meet the tax burden for the property and its owners approached the City, offering to transfer a portion of the field to the Parks Department as a playground. The central section of the property, containing an athletic field and grandstand was transferred in the following year to the

Board of Education A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...

for continued use by Flushing High School. In 1935, the bequest of Flushing Fields to the City was recorded and an

Art Moderne Streamline Moderne is an international style of Art Deco architecture and design that emerged in the 1930s. Inspired by Aerodynamics, aerodynamic design, it emphasized curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements. In indu ...

-style memorial was completed on the southern portion of the property. The Flushing War Memorial is unique in that it honors both men and women. Its location in a public park not only recognized the individuals who died but also serves as a constant reminder to the neighborhood of the great sacrifice made by local residents for the county. The granite stele carries a bronze plaque inscribed with 70 names and a quote from the Gospel of John 15:13. "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends." Following the City’s acquisition of Flushing Fields, the site was divided into three sections, the Memorial Field of Flushing on Bayside Avenue, which contains the Flushing War Memorial, the Flushing High School Memorial Field in the center, and the Leonardo Ingravallo Playground on the northern section of the site. The playground contains a baseball field, two softball fields, courts for basketball, handball and tennis, and a playground. The playground was reconstructed in 1995 and the ballfield in 2003, updating the play equipment with safety features and improved drainage. Flushing Fields remains a popular venue for organized sports in Flushing, a lasting gift to the city by the neighborhood’s residents.

References

* "Offer Playground to City for Tax Aid" ''New York Times'' April 13, 1930 * "Taxes Heavy, Group Offers Land to City" ''Brooklyn Daily Eagle'' April 13, 1930

External links

Flushing Fields
— New York City Department of Parks & Recreation {{Coord, 40, 46, 26, N, 73, 48, 59, W, display=inline,title Parks in Queens, New York Robert Moses projects Flushing, Queens Cricket in New York City