“A road to history” might be an apt alternate name for Fort Hamilton Parkway. This parkway in Brooklyn stretches 4.1 miles. It runs from Windsor Terrace to Bay Ridge. Its southern end meets the entrance of Fort Hamilton.
Fort Hamilton Parkway was originally named Fort Hamilton Avenue. In 1892, the state legislature renamed it a parkway. This put the road under the Brooklyn Parks Department. The renaming aimed to boost real estate desirability. The governor approved the change on May 17, 1892.
Unlike Ocean Parkway and Eastern Parkway, Fort Hamilton Parkway never gained wide lanes. While paved in late 1896, it lacked separated lanes. In 1915, responsibility shifted from Parks to the Brooklyn Borough President. Today, the New York City Department of Transportation maintains it.
Fort Hamilton played a role in every war since the Revolutionary War. It also served in peacetime. Overlooking the river, it protected New York from invaders. On July 4, 1776, a small American battery fired at British ships.
Parks dot the route of Fort Hamilton Parkway. Cutting through the street grid creates triangular intersections. These small spaces became parks. They include Bocchino-Dente Memorial Plaza and Lt. William E. Coffey Square. Greenwood Playground and Leif Ericson Park also lie along the way. You can find McKinley Park, Kathy Reilly Triangle, Dan Ross Playground, and John J. Carty Park too. Fort Hamilton Parkway also borders Green-Wood Cemetery. Its Fort Hamilton gate features a landmarked cottage.
Three subway stations share the parkway’s name. The Fort Hamilton Parkway station on the IND Culver Line is served by the F and G trains. The Fort Hamilton Parkway station on the BMT West End Line is served by the D train. The Fort Hamilton Parkway station on the BMT Sea Beach Line is served by the N and W trains. Until 1975, another station existed on the BMT Culver Line.
Several bus routes serve Fort Hamilton Parkway. The B16 runs along it between 86th Street and 56th or 57th Street. Where the parkway is one-way northbound, southbound buses use 7th Avenue. The Brownsville-bound B8 runs from Marine Avenue to 92nd Street. The B70 then provides service to Bay Ridge Parkway or 7th Avenue. The S53 and S93 run non-stop from 92nd Street to 86th Street. The S79 runs in the opposite direction towards Staten Island. The Manhattan-bound BM1 and BM2 run from the parkway’s northern end to Prospect Expressway.
Back in 1884, a two-story wooden structure on Fort Hamilton Parkway housed P.S. 105. It served the growing farming community. “Avenue” became “Parkway” to create a pleasant promenade. Yet, Fort Hamilton features nary a tree. Still, this old stretch continues to serve the area today.
So, as you stroll along Fort Hamilton Parkway, remember its history. From military origins to park-lined routes, it’s a road with stories to tell.