Ever wonder where baseball dreams took flight in Queens? Joseph F. Mafera Park has a fascinating past. This 5.4-acre park wasn’t always Joseph F. Mafera Park. For almost 50 years, it was known as Farmers’ Oval. From the early 1900s to the 1950s, the Glendale Farmers Base Ball Club called it home.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was briefly called Ridgewood Park and Glen Ridge Park. The park sits between Glendale and Ridgewood. The City of New York purchased the land in 1948. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 28, 1949. Mayor William O’Dwyer, Queens Borough President James A. Burke, and Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Robert Moses attended.
But who was Joseph F. Mafera? Joseph F. Mafera was a longtime Ridgewood resident. He served in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. His public service career began in 1925. He was the secretary and later superintendent of the Queens Parks Department until 1932. Mafera also served as an alderman. He was the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. He was also Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of Borough Works.
After Queens Borough President Maurice A. Fitzgerald died in August 1951, Mafera was appointed interim Borough President. He was an executive member of the Ridgewood Democratic Club. He also served on the New York City Tax Commission from 1951 to 1961. Joseph F. Mafera died on February 12, 1967.
After his death, Glenridge Park was renamed in his honor. It became Joseph F. Mafera Park. Mafera had a short term as Queens Borough President. He served only four months. Before that, he held many civil service jobs and political positions in Queens. These included Queens Parks Department Superintendent and Commissioner of Borough Works.
Joseph F. Mafera Park sits near the New York City Subway’s Fresh Pond Yard. It is also close to the Fresh Pond Junction. This junction is between the Long Island Rail Road’s Bay Ridge and Lower Montauk branches.
The park offers facilities for many activities. You can play baseball, basketball, roller hockey, and handball. It was renovated in the early 1990s. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, and Parks Commissioner Henry Stern hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 18, 1995.
Joseph F. Mafera Park is more than just a park. It is a place with a long history. It connects to a man who dedicated his life to public service. Today, Joseph F. Mafera Park continues to be a vital part of the community. Ongoing projects enhance the park’s appeal and usability. It is a place where memories are made and the spirit of Ridgewood lives on.