In 1925, just ten days shy of turning forty-five, Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur, of the United States Army, was promoted to Major General. This made him the United States Army's youngest two-star major general. This wasn't the only honor which made General MacArthur significant, though. In 1937, he had decided to retire, but was called back to the United States Army in 1941. It wasn't until 1951 that General Douglas MacArthur retired a second time, after having become a very decorated soldier.
General Douglas MacArthur was such a prominent figure in America's history that over fifty places were named in honor of him. If you couldn't guess, one of these places is on Staten Island. This would be MacArthur Park, which is made up of a little more than five acres in the neighborhood of Dongan Hills. The triangular parcel of land which makes up the park is surrounded by the streets of Dongan Hills Avenue and Jefferson Street to the east and west, respectively. The Staten Island Railroad line creates another eastern boundary for the park.
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MacArthur Park was created in conjunction with the General Charles W. Berry Houses, which are located at 26 Dongan Hills Avenue. It opened in April of 1951 and has had many renovations since that time. The year 1995 saw the renovation of play equipment and safety surfacing, while the sidewalks, paths and pavements were repaired two years later. At the turn of the century, the sidewalks were worked on yet again and new fencing was installed. Major renovations were also made to the MacArthur Park Ballfield and MacArthur Playground.
MacArthur Park may seem small, but it actually has quite a few facilities which are spaced out within it. At the northern corner of the park, there is a baseball field, which is parallel to another field below it. Next to and below this second field, there are two basketball courts and a handball court. Just underneath the handball court, you have the General Douglas Outdoor Mini Pool, which is three feet deep. Continuing to the lowest corner of the park, you will find a playground with spray showers and water fountains.
Posted by Anthony Licciardello on
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