Joe Sabba Park

Beneath the rumble of the 7 train, Joe Sabba Park offers a surprising tranquility. Joe Sabba Park is a small green haven nestled amidst the bustling energy of Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue. This unassuming triangle, less than half an acre, holds a rich history intertwined with the Sunnyside community. Joe Sabba Park wasn’t always a park. The city acquired this land in 1913. For twenty years, it served as a mall space known locally as “Roosevelt Plaza.” In 1933, the land was transferred to the New York City Parks Department. It officially became a park. The park’s size increased in 1938 thanks to C.B. Williams. He was then president of the landscape division of Queens Parks. The park became Veterans Memorial Park in 1941. It honored veterans of World War I and those serving in World War II. Joe Sabba Park underwent another transformation in 1976. It was renamed Sunnyside Veterans Triangle. A striking black Vermont granite monument was erected in the park’s center. This monument, designed by Dominick Segrete, honors war veterans. Joe Sabba himself played a key role in this project. The park’s final name change came in 2000. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani renamed it Joe Sabba Park. This honored Sabba’s tireless community activism and dedication to Sunnyside. Joe Sabba, the park’s namesake, was a World War II veteran. He was a tailgunner in the Army Air Corps. After the war, he became a prominent figure in Sunnyside. He was the longtime editor of the Woodside Herald. He also founded the Sunnyside Drum and Bugle Corps. He chaired the Sunnyside Flag Day Parade for over 25 years. Joe Sabba Park today offers a quiet respite. You can find benches and tables made of granite. Shrubbery lines the narrow path. The flags of New York City, the Parks Department, and the United States stand proudly beside the central monument. Joe Sabba Park may be small. But it tells a big story. It is a story of community spirit, honoring veterans, and the legacy of a dedicated local activist.