South Ozone Park, New York is located in the southern part of Queens. It's boundaries are as follows; from the east, the Van Wyck Expressway, the west boundary is the Aqueduct Race Track, the North is Liberty Avenue and the south is The Conduit. However many parts of the surrounding area have either attached itself or detached itself from the area for various reasons.
South Ozone Park History
South Ozone Park's first inhabitants were Native Americans of the Jameco (where Jamaica got it's name) and Reckowacky (where we derived the name Rockaway) tribes.
South Ozone Park was once farmland that was first developed back in 1907, when David Leahy began building homes in farm fields. The area to the west known as Ozone Park had been developed back in 1880's by Benjamin Hitchcock had become a success and South Ozone Park which is actually located East of Ozone Park was to be a community of smaller more moderately priced homes.
With the expansion of the railroad into the area Leahy anticipated the need for more housing and marketed his homes for a reasonable price.
South Ozone Park's Residents
The boundaries and the demographics of the community have changed through the years. Today it is the home of over 45,000 people who live mostly in one-family or two-family dwellings.
Once it's main inhabitants were of Italian-American descent. Today the community is the picture of diversity with a mixture of Whites, Blacks or African-Americans, Hispanics and a steady growth of people of Indian-descent from Trinidad/Tobago and Guyana.
Rockaway Boulevard it's main thorughfare is now a bustling center of commerce with many small businesses as well as major franchises popping up all along it's streets. Liberty Avenue once the sole center of commerce was not as close a trip for many residents. This has given many residents the ability to spend their dollars closer to home.
It's proximity to JFK Airport, the Belt Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway make it a convenient place to live and just a short trip to Brooklyn and Long Island and with the Long Island Railroad and subways just a short commute into Manhattan.
It's a great place to live for those looking for the convenience of the city, but prefer to live in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood.
Today South Ozone Park is a community that is fast becoming the place to live and one of Queen's best kept secrets.
Landmarks
Ancient Burial Ground of the Reckowacky (Rockaway) Tribe- Located at the northern end of JFK's runway.
Wilbur E. Colyer Square- Located at Rockaway Boulevard and 120th Avenue/133rd Street. Coyler Square was named after Wilbur E. Colyer a resident of South Ozone Park who volunteered at the age of 17 to fight in WWI. He was killed during battle and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Valor at Verdun. He was the youngest and first Queens resident to receive this honor.
Edward R. Byrne Place- Located at N. Conduit Avenue between 130th Place and 134th Street. This location was named to honor the memory of rookie Police Officer Edward R. Byrne. He was killed in his patrol car while protecting a witness to a drug crime. His death spurned the inception of the TNT (Tactical Narcotics Team) that has changed the way the NYPD and many police departments across the world fight drugs and drug related crimes.
Aqueduct Race Track- Located on Rockaway Blvd. The Aqueduct Race Track holds the distinction of being the largest thoroughbred racing track in the USA with it's 80,000 seat capacity. It is also the border between Ozone Park and South Ozone Park. Aqueduct has also been the site where many famous horses won championship races like Seabiscuit and Man O'War.
If you're considering South Ozone Park as the location of your new home, please feel free to contact Sharon (Toni) Brown, Your South Ozone Park Neighborhood Expert.
New York City and South Ozone Park Real Estate
My New York City and South Ozone Park Real Estate Blog
Sources:
http://www.thirteen.org/queens/history.html
Á Walk Through Queens With David Hartman
http://www.thirteen.org/queens/history3.html
http://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm=CL-CommunityInfo&branch_id=SZ
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