Once known as Braddock Park, this space now carries a different name. It honors a man who dedicated his life to this community. We are standing at Breininger Park.
H. Jacob “Jack” Breininger lived nearby on Lyman Street. He was a local figure from 1894 to 1979. Breininger devoted much time and effort to bettering his community.
Let’s delve into the story behind this park’s name. Breininger created the Creedmoor Civic Association. He presided over it from 1936 until 1963. His goal was to raise awareness of local issues. He also served as a delegate. This was for the 105th Precinct Community Council. He co-founded the Eastern Queens Civil Council too.
Breininger was a man of many talents. He created the civic association’s newsletter. It was called The Creedmoor Civic News. He edited it for 40 years. He also served as president. This was for the Queens Village-Bellerose Kiwanis. He was a member of the American Legion for 59 years. He played an important role too. This involved the construction of Martin Van Buren High School in 1955.
Breininger Park sits in the Bellerose neighborhood. This area is part of the Jamaica land grant. Peter Stuyvesant granted this land. He was the Director General of New Netherland. New York City was then known as New Netherland. English settlers first arrived here in 1656. The British defeated the Dutch later. The area then joined Queens County in 1683. The Bellerose area was largely farmland until the early 20th century. It was known as “Little Plains.”
Helen Marsh was an entrepreneur from Massachusetts. She built a model community. She also constructed a railroad station in western Nassau. She called it Bellerose. The area adopted the same name. This happened during the building boom of the 1920s. Marsh’s construction of a railway station aided this. It was on the Long Island Rail Road line in 1911.
The City acquired Breininger Park by condemnation in 1938. It is bounded by Braddock Avenue. It also has 240th Street and Fairbury Avenue as borders. The park was renamed for Breininger. This happened less than a year after his death. Council Member Sheldon S. Leffler sponsored a bill in September 1980.
Mayor Giuliani allocated funds for a renovation. This was for the play equipment in 2000. Today, the park offers many features. It has a large concrete play area. Benches are here too. There are four handball courts. One full-size basketball court is available. Play equipment and safety surfacing are present. Swings exist for the children. Two comfort stations are provided. Pin oaks line the play area’s perimeter.
The Department of Parks announced the park’s opening in August 1939. A three and one half acre plot became a playground. It had mature shade trees. The playground was near the Belt Parkway. A large oval lawn was a feature. It was surrounded by a roller skating rink. A comfort station stood between the lawn and a wading pool.
Different age groups could find activities. Small children had a kindergarten area. It included a sand pit and small apparatus. Older children had larger apparatus. They had ample space for group games. Adolescents had six handball courts. They also had shuffleboard and horseshoe pitching courts. A basketball court was available. Two softball diamonds were provided too. In winter, the southern third could be flooded. This created an acre of ice surface.
The New York Times identified it as a WPA project. Nine frame dwellings were demolished. This made way for Braddock Park.
Breininger Park stands as a testament. It reflects the dedication of one man. H. Jacob “Jack” Breininger shaped his community. This park offers a space for recreation and community. It embodies his spirit. It is a place where people can gather. They can play and connect. Remember the story of the man behind the name as you enjoy this park.