Sixteen Oaks Grove

Sixteen Oaks Grove, located at the intersection of 37th Avenue, 14th Street, and 21st Street, with the address 13-19 37th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, is a distinctive "Scenic Spot" within the vibrant urban landscape of Long Island City, Queens. Unlike sprawling recreational parks, Sixteen Oaks Grove is a small, intimate sitting park, officially recognized as a "Triangle/Plaza" property type by NYC Parks. Despite its modest size of 0.22 acres, it holds significant historical and community value, offering a peaceful respite from the surrounding city bustle. This introduction will detail the park's unique environment, the essential services it provides as a public space, its defining features, and the ways in which its quiet charm and history are promoted to local users.

The environment of Sixteen Oaks Grove is immediately distinguished by its namesake: sixteen prominent oak trees that dominate this small traffic median. These mature oaks create a canopy of green, providing a natural, shaded environment that feels surprisingly secluded despite its urban location. The park is essentially a sitting area, designed for passive recreation and contemplation. Its environment is characterized by paved surfaces, thoughtfully integrated to create pathways or areas around which the eight sitting benches are arranged. These benches offer a place for visitors to rest, read, or simply observe the surrounding neighborhood. As a traffic median, it acts as a green island, separating the flow of vehicles and creating a buffer that enhances its tranquil atmosphere. The review stating "As for public use towards setting" suggests its role in providing a designated public space for people to gather or pause. The consistent "Acceptable" cleanliness and overall condition ratings from NYC Parks inspections further attest to a well-maintained and pleasant environment. While it lacks expansive lawns for active sports, its compact design emphasizes its role as a dedicated space for quiet enjoyment and natural beauty within a dense urban corridor. The presence of the Jacob Blackwell Public School 111 directly across the street also influences its environment, as it serves as a nearby green space for students and faculty.

As a "Scenic Spot" and a public park, Sixteen Oaks Grove provides invaluable services to the local community, albeit without direct commercial "goods for sale." Its primary service is offering free, accessible public space for passive recreation. In a rapidly developing area like Long Island City, the provision of maintained green spaces for sitting and quiet enjoyment is a critical urban service. The benches offer a place for residents to take a break from their daily routines, enjoy a meal outdoors, or simply relax. For pedestrians, it serves as a pleasant pause point along their route. The very existence of such a park, maintained by NYC Parks, represents a public service that enhances the quality of life in the neighborhood. It contributes to cleaner air, provides habitat for local wildlife (even if limited), and offers a visual aesthetic that improves the overall urban environment. While there are no transactional services like food vendors or equipment rentals within the park, the service it provides is the intangible benefit of a well-kept public amenity – a place for solace, community informal gathering, and connection with nature in a busy city. Its function as a memorial, discussed further in features, also serves a community service by honoring history and fostering local pride.

The features of Sixteen Oaks Grove are deeply rooted in its design and historical significance. The most defining feature, from which it derives its current name, is the presence of sixteen mature oak trees. These trees are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to the park's shaded and serene atmosphere, making it a comfortable spot even on sunny days. Another key feature is the eight sitting benches strategically placed throughout the small triangle, providing ample opportunities for rest and contemplation. Historically, the park was originally named after Anthony Leo Placella, a native of Long Island City who died in World War I. This commemorative aspect is a profound feature, giving the park a layer of historical significance and serving as a quiet memorial for a local hero. The land for the park was acquired by the City through condemnation in two parcels in 1913 and 1932, and then conveyed to Parks in 1939, when it was renamed to honor Placella. The subsequent renaming to "Sixteen Oaks Park" by NYC Parks (later Sixteen Oaks Grove) due to its dominant trees highlights the natural feature that became its most recognizable characteristic. Its classification as a "Triangle/Plaza" property type by NYC Parks also signifies its unique urban form, distinct from larger recreational parks, emphasizing its role as a designated sitting area or traffic median. The park's consistent "Acceptable" ratings for cleanliness and condition in NYC Parks inspections speak to its well-maintained status, a crucial feature for any public amenity.

Promotional information for Sixteen Oaks Grove, as a "Scenic Spot," primarily stems from the NYC Parks Department and local community efforts. The NYC Parks website is the authoritative source, detailing its history, acreage (0.22 acres), and property type, encouraging public awareness and visitation. Its historical significance, particularly its original naming for Anthony Leo Placella, is often highlighted in these official descriptions, adding a layer of depth to its promotion beyond just its physical amenities. Local community boards and neighborhood associations in Long Island City might also feature the park in their newsletters or online platforms, encouraging residents to utilize this peaceful green space. Given its small size and primary function as a sitting park, its promotion focuses on its intangible benefits: a quiet place for reflection, a beautiful natural element in the urban landscape, and a historical landmark. While there are no active commercial promotions or "goods for sale" associated with the park, its role as a cherished local amenity is inherently promoted by its upkeep and accessibility. The review "As for public use towards setting" indirectly promotes its function as a tranquil public setting. The visual appeal of its sixteen oak trees and its contribution to the neighborhood's aesthetic charm are often implicit elements of its promotion, inviting residents to discover this hidden gem in Long Island City.

Sixteen Oaks Grove

13-19 37th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA