Project Details Page

synopsis

Envisioned as a counterpart to popular Coney Island, Frederick Law Olmsted was called to design Rockaway Point in 1879. The location was touted as a large summer resort destination. Olmsted wrote: “There is no place as near and easily & cheaply accessible from New York as Rockaway Point which is also as far removed from conditions of the same class,

Envisioned as a counterpart to popular Coney Island, Frederick Law Olmsted was called to design Rockaway Point in 1879. The location was touted as a large summer resort destination. Olmsted wrote: “There is no place as near and easily & cheaply accessible from New York as Rockaway Point which is also as far removed from conditions of the same class, barring the liabilities which I have pointed out, conditions exist as favorable for recovery and the working off of malarial and diarrhetic trouble.” [FLO to H.Y.Attrill_30-07-1879_LOC-FLOP-C-GC-R17_im 3] The preliminary plan included a variety of recreation activities such as “space for hotel, bath house, pavilion, concert garden and dancing halls” as well as a “site for summer cottages.” [Rockaway Point Preliminary Plan_00515-4-pt1] Although the proposed resort area for the peninsula today includes a number of parks-, Olmsted’s plans were not carried out due to financial constraints at the time. The area was used as a United States Army installation during WWI and WWII . The area now includes Rockaway Park, Breezy Point Tip, Fort Tilden, Jacob Riis Park, and Rockaway Beach.

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