Seen In Borough Park: Gravesend Park
(photo credit: Brian Hedden)
This was Gravesend Park on Veterans’ Day. (Yeah – I’m a little lazy in getting this posted. Sue me.) I was surprised at how empty the playground and ballfield was, considering it was a school and bank holiday. Granted, I got here at 11am, but still. I would have expected it to be teeming with kids. Guess they were all still in their pajamas watching SpongeBob reruns on Nickelodeon?
Gravesend Park is not in Gravesend. The City Parks Department takes a shot at explaining away this inconsistency.
The City of Brooklyn first acquired this parcel in 1896 for construction of a disciplinary training school. The school closed in 1916 and parks acquired the property in 1917. Only 23 years had passed since Gravesend was its own town. McDonald Avenue, which lies a few blocks to the east, was still known as Gravesend Avenue, and parks were often named for nearby, major streets. While it is difficult to say absolutely, it seems likely that this park was named to honor Gravesend.
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