PARK'S CULTURAL HERITAGE

Park's Cultural Heritage

Parks Don't Just Happen!

Park's Cultural Heritage

Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park began in the summer of 2020 to assist NYC Parks in stewardship of the parkland.  By protecting environmentally sustainable functions of the pond, woodlands, and gardens, we can support pollinator populations, wildlife, biodiversity, while also creating an aesthetics pleasing environments for our community. These goals are not new to Queens residents. We are part of an ongoing history of likeminded people interested in improving our local environment and shared parkland. While Crocheron Park and John Golden Park entered NYC Parks system in the 1930s and 1950s, both areas were previously used by the community as public land.


Friends works to connect with our cultural heritage. First, by continuing our community's tradition of stewardship. Second, by creating a database and tours to share Our Park's cultural history with the community. Along with clean ups and conservation efforts, Friends began to create an archive of the park's cultural history in 2020. Using internet library archives and building relationships with local archivists, historians, and even a genealogist. The group has compiled over hundreds of years of parkland history. Organizations, people, and companies listed at the bottom of this page have provided extensive assistance to the project.

The cultural heritage that Friends covers is wide. It begins with the histories of indigenous peoples the Matinecock Tribe and the events that pushed them from Little Neck Bay. Maps of Flushing and Little Neck Bay from the 1800s and 1900s show property ownership and projected ownership throughout the park. Without local advocacy, Bayside would have more residential homes instead of the 45 acres of parkland in Crocheron Park. The 1900s brings evidence of advocacy from John Golden's correspondence, John Golden Day Meeting Minutes, and newspaper articles. These written records, along with census reports listing Joseph Crocheron, are just some of the written sources that we connect with archival photographs. 

The tour's images and stories describe the peoples' ongoing connection to the land along Little Neck Bay. Photographs from events show the going use of the land. Late 1800s photographs show calming along the shores near the Crocheron House. The 1920s to 1950s have images of John Golden opening up his land to the community for events and festivals. New Deal Era photographers chronicle the work to creating landscapes in the 1930s. And stewards pond clean ups in the 1970s show that 'Parks don't just happen' - they require the advocacy of local residents to ensure their ongoing use. Today, Crocheron & John Golden Park is a fixture in the community. The culture heritage of the parkland, where park goers enjoying themselves throughout the seasons and years, helps to remind us about the gift we have to leave for future generations.

What is Cultural Heritage?

Cultural heritage encompasses a lot of things that we interact with on a daily basis. Cultural heritage are our traditions, languages, rituals, work customs, and architecture of buildings that are passed down from previous generations. Cultural heritage also includes the natural landscapes and biological diversity that we enjoy in nature. Overall, they help to connect us to our history, community, and to one another. 


According to the UN Economic and Social Council:

"The term cultural heritage encompasses several main categories of heritage: 

  • Cultural heritage
  • Tangible cultural heritage:
  • movable cultural heritage (paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts)
  • immovable cultural heritage (monuments, archaeological sites, and so on)
  • underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities)
  • Intangible cultural heritage:
  • oral traditions, performing arts, rituals
  • Natural heritage:
  • natural sites with cultural aspects such as cultural landscapes, physical, biological or geological formations
  • Heritage in the event of armed conflict"

(Source: the UN Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) )

Why should we learn about our Cultural Heritage?

Learning more about our shared cultural heritage in Queens, NYC, is especially important journey to undertake.


Queens is the most culturally diverse place in the world. Many of our ancestors are recent immigrants to this country, coming from other places seeking a better life. This ongoing American story, desire to go west, explore more, and find something better for our descendants, is part of who we are. It is also a big part of the stories of those that have inhabited the land before us. Searching for a better place, looking to have their special spot along the woody shorefront and beautiful pond. We hope that connecting with Our Shared Cultural Heritage - of park construction parkland stewardship, and park enjoyment - provides us with a larger sense of community.


According to the UNESCO, these are "resources that are inherited from the past, created in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations." And that these "resources are a “fragile wealth”, and as such they require policies and development models that preserve and respect its diversity and uniqueness since, once lost, they are non- renewable." By creating a way to honor and uphold these beautiful gifts, we are able to ensure the they are there for future generations.

In-Person Cultural Heritage Tour

The in-person Cultural Heritage Tours will be back in the Fall. We are grateful to have had our first tour hosted by the Urban Park Rangers.

Virtual Cultural Heritage Tour

Our virtual Cultural Heritage Tour is now open - highlighting 15 locations around the park. Along with photographs and maps covering centuries, we used newspapers articles, letters, and genealogical research, such as census records to tell a story about what happened. The virtual tour will be accessible via the Friends' website as a slideshow and also an interactive tour, with location markers, on GoogleEarth. Learn more about Our Shared Cultural Heritage - and why it is important for us to remember that Parks Don't Just Happen!

Click on Map to Enlarge

Crocheron & John Golden Park Tree Map (2021)

Our Park has a wide variety of trees. We look to expand and fine-tune this map in the coming months. Dana, volunteer and park steward with NYC Parks, worked with Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park to create this map.


Special Thanks to Our Archival Partners!

List of the archives we have worked with, with their logos- includes:

Our
Mission & Values

We are dedicated to preserving Crocheron & John Golden Park as public parkland for future generations.  We look to connect with our Park Community Members, without regard to their race, religion, or background.  We strive to ensure Crocheron & John Golden Park will provide all visitors with beautiful open spaces.  

We were founded to continue Bayside residents' tradition of stewardship of public parklands.  By working in partnership with NYC Parks and Partnership for the Parks, our organization will provide visitors of our Park Community with opportunities to volunteer their time to support the conservation and preservation of Crocheron & John Golden Park.

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Our Park's unique history reminds us that Parks Don't Just Happen! Working together we can learn more and remember why we should have reverence for and respect of this community treasure.

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We have over 60 acres of Parkland that needs stewardship! Find a volunteer opportunity for you, your family, or your local community group.

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