Laurelton Playground

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

What was here before?

There was a one and a half story schoolhouse on the property- Public School 38 that was built in 1880 for the Town of Jamaica. 

 

In 1906, former New York State Senator William H. Reynolds purchased a 300-acre tract located east of the Atlantic and Montauk division junction of the Long Island Railroad.  In the same year, the entrepreneur founded the Laurelton Land Company to develop the new land.  Primarily, the Laurelton Land Company built $4,000 single-family Spanish-style homes on triple lots with a median price of $1,900.  The company constructed several extravagant homes that cost near $17,000.  In 1917, Reynolds moved the Laurelton Land Company to begin development in Long Beach, Long Island.  In order to ensure transportation for the development, the company purchased the worldly 224th Street Long Island Railroad station for $8,000. Although disputed, many historians believe that the company derived its name from the many laurels that grew near the railroad station. 

 

 

How did this site become a park?

Laurelton Playground, originally purchased in 1880 by the Town of Jamaica for School District #3, became City property during the 1898 Consolidation and was managed by the Board of Education. After P.S. 38 closed in 1934, the land was transferred to the Parks Department, which opened the playground in 1935 and expanded it in 1936.

 

In 1999, the park was renovated with new features including drinking fountains, pavement, fencing, swings, a spray shower shaped like a lion, and a pre-cast Doric column. Roman-themed elements were added, such as bronze rosettes, Roman numerals, and plaques depicting SPQR and the legend of Romulus, Remus, and the she-wolf.

 

IN 2025, the park was reconstructed with a new design that aims to make the park more welcoming with updated play areas with shorter surrounding fencing for better visibility.

 

The design preserves mature honey locust trees and creates shaded play zones for both tots and older children. Two entrances connect the playground to the street and nearby skate park, with a central path leading to a colorful spray shower feature. Play equipment for ages 5–12 includes an elevated, accessible loop with slides and climbing structures, while the tot area emphasizes early motor skill development and adult-child interaction. Decorative patterns and games are integrated into the ground surface for added engagement. New trees, shrubs, and groundcovers were planted to enhance aesthetics and provide screening.

 

 

Who is this park named for?

Laurel refers to various evergreen shrubs and small trees, with the true laurel known for producing the Bay leaf, commonly used in cooking. Early colonists introduced laurel to the Americas, where it thrived in different regions. The laurel holds symbolic significance, rooted in Greco-Roman mythology, where it was associated with the god Apollo, who found purification and protection in laurel groves. In the Pythian games, victors were crowned with laurel wreaths, symbolizing victory in both Greek and Roman cultures. Laurel wreaths were worn by victorious soldiers, used as a sign of truce, and believed to protect against lightning, often adorning the gates of the Caesars.