Across the street from the hulking Rutland Road Plaza stands Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park. It’s a tranquil escape from the urban bustle. Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park is more than just green space. It holds layers of history, whispering tales of boundary disputes and evolving landscapes. Originally acquired in 1896, the park sits on a slope of a glacial terminal moraine. Back then, the area was sparsely populated. You could even see the ocean from this vantage point, giving rise to the name “Ocean Hill” for the area just north of the park. Imagine standing here in 1896, the ocean breeze in your hair.
Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park played a role in a long-standing feud. During the Dutch period, this very spot marked the northern boundary of the Town of Flatbush. A treaty with local Native Americans designated the terminal moraine, “by the hills,” as the dividing line. However, the neighboring settlement of Brooklyn interpreted this as the “foot of the hills,” claiming more land for themselves. This dispute dragged on until a court decision in 1678. Of course, the boundary became meaningless when Flatbush was annexed by Brooklyn in 1894, and then Brooklyn by New York City just four years later. You can still stroll through Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park today, unaware that you are walking on a former battleground of municipal borders.
The park originally ended at President Street. As Crown Heights grew, the city expanded Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park southward by two blocks and eastward by one. In the 1930s, Parks Commissioner Robert Moses championed active recreation in parks. This explains the playgrounds and sports fields you’ll find in the park’s southern half. The ghostly paths of demapped President Street and Crown Street still run straight through the park. In 1932, the park gained a second name, honoring Arthur S. Somers, a prominent Brooklyn business leader of the early 20th century.
Even today, Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park continues to evolve. A new playground, opened in 2019, features modern climbing structures, a “spiderweb,” swings, and slides. It’s one of 34 similar playgrounds across the city, a testament to the ongoing efforts to revitalize and enhance New York City’s parks. On the park’s eastern side, you’ll find tennis courts and the portal where the Eastern Parkway subway line transitions to the elevated Livonia Avenue line. Appropriately, this section of the park is bordered by Portal Street, a functional name reflecting its location. Lincoln Terrace Park / Arthur S. Somers Park, a quiet haven within a vibrant city. A place where history, nature, and recreation intertwine.