Forest Park Carousel

Forest Park Carousel is a historic carousel located in Forest Park in the Woodhaven section of the New York City borough of Queens. It was built in 1903 and moved to its present site in 1972 from Dracut, Massachusetts, after the previous carousel was destroyed by fire in 1966. The carousel contains 52 figures, including 36 jumpers, 13 standers, three menagerie figures, and two chariots. It also has its original band organ. It is one of two known surviving carousels built by the Muller brothers. The carousel is housed in a non-historic one-story, octagonal, open wood frame pavilion designed in 1988.[2]

Forest Park Carousel
Forest Park Carousel, July 2012
LocationWoodhaven Blvd. and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven, New York
Coordinates40°42′1.3″N 73°51′24.2″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1903
ArchitectMuller, D.C.
NRHP reference No.04000706[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 16, 2004
Designated NYCLJune 25, 2013

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[1] On June 25, 2013 the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission gave the Forest Park Carousel a city landmark designation.[3]

Closing and reopening

The carousel closed when New York One LLC, its operator, allowed the contract to expire in 2009.[4] Efforts and petitions were made to re-open the carousel after its closing, and obtain city landmark status. The New York City Parks Department sought a new vendor, and also submitted an application for an Environmental Protection Fund grant to help restore the horses. It reopened on May 26, 2012 under the management of NY Carousel.[5]

The operation of the carousel was awarded to NY Carousel under a long-term contract.[6] The company embarked on a plan to bring back the carousel to its former glory, which began with removal of the "prison gates" around the building's perimeter, new paint, and re-opening of the concession stand. The response from the community was overwhelming. The historic carousel has had a lot of riders since it re-opened.[7] In addition, the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association named NY Carousel their "Business of the Year" for 2012. NY Carousel has said that they plan on bringing additional rides and attractions to the Forest Park Carousel over the long-term.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Kathleen LaFrank (January 2004). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Forest Park Carousel". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2011-01-16. See also: "Accompanying 35 photos". Archived from the original on 2012-03-21.
  3. "Commission Names Eight Individual Landmarks And Expands A Historic District On The Upper West Side" (PDF). www.nyc.gov/html/lpc. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  4. "City Audit Finds Carousel Operator Duped Customers, Violated Health Code Laws". NY1.com. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.
  5. "Devotees Seek To Reopen Queens Carousel". NY1.com. July 17, 2010. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.
  6. Business at the Carousel Booming, The Forum August 16, 2012.
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