Peeking out from behind these trees is Mentone Playground. This park in Queens County offers a space for relaxation and play.
Mentone Playground sits at N40.66639 degrees and W73.74250 degrees. The park’s elevation is 16 feet above sea level. You can find Mentone Playground on the USGS 1:24K topographic map of Lynbrook, NY.
Now, I’ll tell you a bit about playgrounds in New York City. Robert Moses, New York City’s parks commissioner from 1934, built 650 playgrounds. These playgrounds featured seesaws and galvanized slides. Sprinklers and swing sets were also common. Moses aimed for safety. He used asphalt to prevent digging. He thought it eliminated dust. However, the surfaces caused injuries.
Kids sought adventure playgrounds. They were bored with the standard designs. These alternative playgrounds had ziggurats and treehouses. There were rope bridges and zip lines. Kids loved the Brutalist-Aztec watercourses. They enjoyed tunnel networks. Mentone Playground provides a safe space today.
New York City has a history of amusement parks too. Coney Island once housed Dreamland and Luna Park. Steeplechase Park was also very popular. Fires and economic distress caused many parks to close. Luna Park had an Oriental theme. Dreamland featured refined architecture.
Other amusement parks included Freedom Land in the Bronx. Rockaway’s Playland in Queens offered fun for decades. Fort George Amusement Park was known as Harlem’s Coney Island. Gala Amusement Park was once called the Coney Island of Queens.
These parks offered carousels, roller coasters, and more. Unfortunately, many faced fires and financial problems.
Mentone Playground may not have the thrills of a roller coaster. Still, it offers a vital space. It is a place where children can play. It is a place where families can gather.
As you explore Mentone Playground, remember its place. It is a small part of a larger story. It is a story of recreation in New York City.