Forest Parkway is one of the more interesting streets of Woodhaven.  Only six blocks long, but instantly recognizable, this broad street stretches from a T-Junction at Jamaica Avenue up to the mouth of Forest Park Drive.  Woodhaven's Post Office and Library are located on Forest Parkway, and it is here, near the War Memorial and where the town Christmas Tree is decorated each year, that you'll find the closest thing we have to a "town square" -- Forest Park Plaza.  Here's a great shot of it, taken from the elevated train station.

Here's a classic picture of Forest Park Plaza, courtesy of the American Legion, Post 118.  This first one is from May 1966, during a Memorial Day celebration.  Check out the old tree, sitting where our Christmas Tree now resides.  Click here to see the super sized version of this picture.    Look at the crowd and you'll see some folks sticking their fingers in their ears.

This celebration was a tradition back in the 60's, only 20 years removed from World War 2.  Here is another picture, this one dated 2 years later, May 1968.  Notice that the old tree is now gone.  Click here to view the super sized version of the 1968 ceremony.  Look closely and, again, you'll see folks covering their ears.  Those guns must have been loud!   

Both of those pictures must have been taken from the steps of the elevated train station, which have long since been removed.  Click here to check out our coverage of the 2009 Memorial Day Celebration -- here's the video:

Forest Parkway is a beautiful stretch of Woodhaven, and sometimes you have to look up to appreciate it.  Here's a beautiful facade, right at the mouth of Forest Parkway.

And you also get a terrific view of the tops of the buildings from Forest Park -- I liked this picture below so much we used it for the top of our blog, Engage.

Here's another nice shot of Forest Parkway taken during last years Works Little League Parade.  Click here to see the 2009 parade -- with bonus footage from 1959's Rich-Haven Little League Parade.    

Here's a few more odds and ends -- an older image from 1941 of Forest Parkway, right off Jamaica Avenue:

Unfortunately, the quality of this image is poor.  But it is at the right side of this image where the war memorial would someday sit.  At the time this picture was taken World War 2 was months away from beginning. 

The next picture concerns the War Memorial itself, and an oddity about a few of the names that appear on it.  Please note that in no way is this meant to be disrespectful.  These were two young men who gave their lives for our country, but fate has put them together thusly:

Here is wording of the dedication on this memorial:

1941 - Honor Roll - 1945

The Woodhaven Patriotic League

On behalf of the citizens of Woodhaven dedicates this tablet in grateful memory

of those who died in the service of their country in World War II.

They sacrificed the promise of youth in a war for freedom.

Now they stand with the immortals who helped to make America

the dream and hope of all liberty loving people.

Erected July 4, 1955.

Further along Forest Parkway is something you don't see very often any more - a sign directing you to the nearest public shelter.  From the looks of the condition of this sign, it's been hanging there for quite a while.  I wonder if the shelter is still there? 

 Here's an interesting composition - the Woodhaven Public Library as it looked in 1941, and as it appears today:

Directly across the street from the library is the house where Betty Smith wrote "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."  It's a beautiful house, and the owners have done a fantastic job of restoring it.  Here's a nice picture of the landmark sign that sits in front of the house, and you have your pick of trees growing in the background.

 

And to wrap up this fresh look at Forest Parkway, we go back to the early 1980s to see a film made by residents of Woodhaven that is truly a walk up Forest Parkway, up those fantastic steps through Forest Park, and ends up at the Seuffert Bandshell.

If you have any comments, or would like to suggest other projects, drop us a line at info@projectwoodhaven.com or projectwoodhaven@aol.com .  

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