National Register of Historic Places

Ocean Parkway

New York, Kings County, New York
Listed
September 7, 1983
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83001697

About this property

Ocean Parkway is a boulevard in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it was built between 1874 and 1876. Ocean Parkway runs roughly 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to south from the intersection with Prospect Park (Machate) Circle, at the southwestern corner of Prospect Park, to the Atlantic Ocean waterfront at Brighton Beach. The 4.86-mile-long (7.82 km) section between Church Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean is maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as New York State Route 908H (NY 908H), an unsigned reference route. In general, Ocean Parkway is 210 feet (64 m) wide and consists of a main roadway, two landscaped medians, and two service roads flanking the main road. The western median contains the United States' first bike lane, which opened in 1894, while the eastern side of the parkway contained a bridle path until the 1970s. Commercial vehicles are prohibited from Ocean Parkway, and there is limited public transit. Much of the original parkway remains intact, but the section north of Church Avenue was mostly replaced with the Prospect Expressway in the 1950s; the service roads continue to Park Circle, the original northern terminus. The section south of Church Avenue is a New York City scenic landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. Olmsted and Vaux designed Ocean Parkway, along with Eastern Parkway, in the 1860s to connect Prospect Park with neighborhoods further afield. The section north of Kings Highway was constructed from 1873 to 1874, while the section south of Kings Highway was constructed in 1876. Over the years, a variety of building styles including single-family homes, mansions, and apartment buildings were developed along the parkway. Ocean Parkway was originally a dirt road but has been modified several times over the years. The boulevard first received a macadam pavement in the 1920s and was renovated in the 1970s. Ocean Parkway was one of Brooklyn's most dangerous roads by the 21st century.

Location

New York, Kings County, New York
40.61382, -73.96993

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Jewish Center of Kings Highway
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0.5 mi
Magen David Synagogue
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0.9 mi
US Post Office-Parkville Station
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0.9 mi
Beth El Jewish Center of Flatbush
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0.9 mi
Hubbard House
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1 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Long Island — Jamaica Pass Flanking
1776Revolutionary War
2.5 mi
Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn Heights)
1776Revolutionary War
2.7 mi
Battle of Long Island — Battle Pass
1776Revolutionary War
2.7 mi
Battle of Long Island
1776Revolutionary War
3.1 mi
Battle of Long Island — Gowanus Heights
1776Revolutionary War
3.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ocean Parkway listed on the National Register?

Ocean Parkway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 7, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Ocean Parkway?

Ocean Parkway is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ocean Parkway?

The period of significance for Ocean Parkway is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ocean Parkway?

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