About Woodhull Park, Staten Island
In March of 2001, Staten Island lost one of its most recognized activists: Lorraine Sorge. Lorraine Sorge was greatly involved in the borough. She had been known for speaking her mind on topics such as the closing of the South Shore's Staten Island University Hospital, the construction of a jail on Staten Island, and toll hikes on Staten Island's bridges. In each case, she was very much against each proposal. At the time of her death, Lorraine Sorge was president of the Staten Island Taxpayer's Association, a non-profit organization made up of Staten Islanders of all communities who are dedicated to improving the whole of the Island.
Aside from being the president of the Staten Island Taxpayer's Association, Lorraine Sorge had been co-chairwoman of the Staten Island Recreation Congress, which was established in an attempt to populate the Island with more recreational facilities. One year prior to her death, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation acquired five acres of land from the New York State Department of Transportation. Lorraine Sorge had tried her best to have a park established on the site, but she would not live long enough for it to be anything but a proposal.
By the middle of 2001, a few months after Lorraine Sorge's death, plans had been made to establish a specific type of park on the site, which is rare to see on Staten Island. This park, which would only take up about one-and-a-half acres of land, would cater to young children and senior citizens alike, an idea favored by Lorraine Sorge, herself. By 2005, Woodhull Senior Park opened near Bloomingdale Park. Much of the park's history is unknown, such as the naming of the park, which is just named after the street in borders. However, there have been rumors that have been going on since the planning staging that the park would be named in honor of Lorraine Sorge. Whether or not the park was even dedicated in honor of Lorraine Sorge is unknown, but to this day, it still retains its original name of Woodhull Senior Park.
The original acreage transferred to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation was behind the current houses along Vernon Ave., between Drumgoole Road East, Marcy Avenue, and Amboy Road. The parcel that was converted into Woodhull Senior Park is at the corner of Drumgoole Road East and Woodhull Avenue, Marcy Avenue's alternate alias. This section is closest to the Korean War Veteran's Parkway, which is just north of the park.
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There are three separate entrances to Woodhull Senior Park. The main entrance is at the corner of Drumgoole Road East and Woodhull Avenue. After passing a bench along the pathway, you will reach the main facilities of the park. First, you will come across a swing set, which is adjacent to a multi-colored spray showers. Past these is the jungle gym. Along the perimeter between the swing set and the jungle gym are benches.
At an almost equivalent distance from either side of the main entrance, you have the second and third entrances. The entrance along Woodhull Avenue has a long path with benches which leads to the center of the park. The last entrance is further down on Drumgoole Road East. As you walk down the few steps, you will reach a pavilion providing shade along with the trees which guard the only side of the park not bordered by a street. All of the facilities within the park are accessible from each of the entrances.
Posted by Anthony Licciardello on
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