Joe Sabba Park

Small park in Queens, New York
Joe Sabba Park on an Autumn day

Joe Sabba Park is a 0.47-acre (1,900 m2) New York City public park maintained and run by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens in New York City. It is located at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Queens Boulevard, between 48th and 49th Streets. The park is named after Joe Sabba, a veteran of World War II and local activist from Sunnyside.

Description

The park has several benches with tables made of granite along a narrow path through its center decorated by shrubbery on its sides. At its center is a memorial statue, designed in black Vermont granite by architect Dominick Segrete. Beside the monument are the flags of the City of New York, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and the United States.[1]

Veterans Memorial Statue

History

Early history (1913–1977)

On 18 October 1913, the City of New York purchased the land between 48th and 49th Streets, at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Queens Boulevard. It was first used for mall space, which became known as "Roosevelt Plaza" by the locals. After 20 years, on 18 October 1933, the land was given to the New York City Parks Department and repurposed as a park. Its area would be increased in 1938, at the order of C.B. Williams, then president of the landscape division of Queens Parks, a subdivision of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for Queens County. In 1941, following the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and the US entry in the Second World War, the park was named Veterans Memorial Park to honor the veterans who fought in World War I, as well as the soldiers fighting in World War II.[1]

Renaming (1977–2000)

In 1977, the park experienced a few changes. It was renamed Sunnyside Veterans Triangle;[citation needed] and thanks to the efforts of Joe Sabba, a local activist, a brand new statue was installed in the park to honor the veterans of American wars.

On 20 June 2000, the park, then named Veterans Memorial Park, was renamed in Sabba's honor by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sabba Park". NYC Parks. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Press Release Archives #234-00 – Mayor Giuliani signs bill that names park after Joe Sabba". Archives of the Mayor's Press Office, New York City. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Protected areas of New York City
National Historic Sites
National monuments
and memorials
National recreation areas
State
State Parks
State recreation lands
Manhattan
The Bronx
East Bronx
West Bronx
South Bronx
Brooklyn
Queens
Staten Island
North Shore
(Community District 1)
Mid-Island
(Community District 2)
  • Blood Root Valley
  • Bradys Pond
  • Deere
  • Father Macris
  • FDR Boardwalk
  • Gen. MacArthur
  • High Rock
  • Last Chance
  • Midland Field
  • Ocean Breeze
  • Old Place Creek
  • Prall's Island
  • Saw Mill Creek Marsh
  • Schmul
  • South Beach Wetlands
  • St. George
  • Staten Island Industrial
  • Westwood
  • Willowbrook
Mid-Island & South Shore
(Community Districts 2 & 3)
South Shore
(Community District 3)
Other
Nature centers
Zoos
Botanical gardens
Roosevelt Island
Other lists

40°44′34″N 73°54′57″W / 40.74285°N 73.91594°W / 40.74285; -73.91594