Picture Fordham Landing Playground. A small park it sits nestled beside the Major Deegan Expressway. Built in 1950 this park came into existence alongside the expressway. It’s a testament to the city’s rapid growth and transformation. Before this playground there was a gas holder tank. It provided heat for the neighborhood. The land itself holds layers of history. It was once a cove where ferries landed before the University Heights Bridge was built in 1908. The bridge itself has an interesting story. It was originally located further north. It was moved to Fordham Landing when an elevated subway line needed space. Before the cove was filled it was the mouth of a brook from nearby Devoe Park. Imagine the landscape then. Rolling hills dotted with mansions. The grand mansion of shipbuilder William H Webb stood overlooking the cove. It later became the campus of the Webb Institute a school for naval architects and marine engineers. The mansion is long gone now. In its place stand the Fordham Hill Oval apartment towers. Fordham Landing Playground is a small slice of this larger transformation. It’s where the past meets the present. You stand on reclaimed land once part of the Harlem River. Today kids play basketball on courts upgraded in 2023. The park is a quiet contrast to the busy expressway. It is a reminder of the area’s evolution. From a bustling port to a busy residential area Fordham Landing Playground has witnessed it all. Next time you visit reflect on the layers of history beneath your feet. The playground is more than a place to play. It’s a living history lesson.
Gould Family Mausoleum
Ever heard of a “Robber Baron?” Here at Woodlawn Cemetery stands the Gould Family Mausoleum. It is a testament to