“Did you ever defend someone who was wrongly accused?” That’s a question people might have asked Frank D. O’Connor. We are standing at the Frank D. O’Connor Playground. It stands as a tribute to an American lawyer and politician.
Frank D. O’Connor Playground is more than just swings and slides. It is a place with a story. This land was once part of Middleburg. It was established in 1652 by English Puritans. The village was shortly renamed Newtown.
Frank D. O’Connor was born in Manhattan in 1909. He grew up in Elmhurst Queens. O’Connor worked as a lifeguard to pay for Niagara University. He later graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1934.
During World War II, O’Connor served as a legal officer in Alaska. He was in the Coast Guard. He won a seat in the New York State Senate representing Queens. O’Connor served as Queens District Attorney from 1955 to 1965. Later, he became President of the City Council.
As Council President, O’Connor wanted to distribute public housing throughout the city. He also promoted creating a civilian complaint review board for the Police Department. He ran for Governor against Nelson Rockefeller in 1966 but was unsuccessful. In 1968, O’Connor was elected to the State Supreme Court.
One notable event in O’Connor’s career was his defense of Christopher Emanuel Balestrero. Balestrero was wrongfully accused of holdups in Queens in 1953. Alfred Hitchcock later directed “The Wrong Man” based on this case.
The Frank D. O’Connor Playground has a history of its own. In 1935, the Board of Transportation allowed the Department of Parks to use two parcels for recreation. The Works Progress Administration developed the property in 1937. It became a neighborhood playground and sitting park.
In 1936, a press release announced a new playground. It had swings, jungle gyms, and sand tables. It also featured basketball, handball, and horseshoe pitching courts. There was also a roller hockey field and a softball diamond. The area could be flooded for ice-skating in winter.
The Frank D. O’Connor Playground offered various athletic facilities. These included handball, basketball, and volleyball courts. There were horseshoe pitching areas and a rollerskating rink. A softball field could be flooded for ice skating. Play equipment included a shower basin, playhouses, and slides. There were also swings and a jungle gym.
The Frank D. O’Connor Playground was renovated in the 1950s and again in the 1990s. Frank D. O’Connor was active in many organizations. He was part of the Queens County Bar Association. He also belonged to the Emerald Association of Long Island. O’Connor also supported the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He died in Flushing Queens in 1992 at the age of 82.
Today, the Frank D. O’Connor Playground continues to serve the community. It is a place where children can play. Adults can relax. It stands as a reminder of Frank D. O’Connor’s contributions to New York City. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to public service.