Ozone Park, Queens
Encyclopedia
Ozone Park is a working class neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the New York City
borough
of Queens
bordering Woodhaven
, Richmond Hill
, South Ozone Park
, Howard Beach
, and City Line, Brooklyn
.
Different parts of the neighborhood are covered by Queens Community Board 9
and 10
.
The northern border is Atlantic Avenue
; the southern border is South Conduit Avenue, and the eastern border is 108th Street.
The western border is the county line with Brooklyn
(mostly along Ruby and Drew Streets). It is the home of the Aqueduct Racetrack
, a popular spot for thoroughbred racing.
began service through the area in 1880 as part of its route from Long Island City
to Howard Beach
. Ozone Park was created and settled in 1882. The name "Ozone Park" was chosen to "lure buyers with the idea of refreshing breezes blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean
to a park-like community." Ozone Park was considered the country to all those that lived in Manhattan. Ozone Park was also a very serene place to have loved ones rest in peace, in what was termed the country.
Before the turn of the 20th century, there was an attempt to develop up to nine neighborhoods with the "park" title. Ozone Park was the only one these neighborhoods that continues to exist mostly because of the daily service at the now-defunct Ozone Park station
on the Long Island Railroad. The name persisted because of the many commuters who passed through the Ozone Park station and referred to it as an important landmark. The railroad station was also responsible for the increasing development of the neighborhood because the access to the railroad allowed people to get into the city easily, increasing its popularity among families looking to move into a suburb.
The final improvement to the local transit system was the elevated railroad line at Liberty Avenue in 1914. In addition to this railroad station came the nickel fare which was another major factor in the development of Ozone Park. The nickel fare gave residents the ability to travel anywhere along the railroad line for a set price of 5¢. This new fare was considered to be the "single most effective stimulus to home building" in the Ozone Park area because the real estate developers began buying up all the lots on either side of Liberty Avenue in hopes the new station would attract more people to want to live in Ozone Park.
Prior to 1922, Woodhaven Boulevard was the only important north-south street in town. Then officials decided to expand Woodhaven Boulevard all the way south to the Rockaways and finally opened to traffic in 1925. This made Ozone Park more accessible by both bus and car. Since cars were also becoming more popular at this time, the land became much more valuable leading to a construction boom in an attempt to fill any empty lot. Between the years of 1921 and 1930, Ozone Park saw a population increase of over 180% from 40,000 to 112,950 people. With this extraordinary increase in population came the need for schools and sources of entertainment. In response to this demand came the construction of John Adams High School in 1930. This school was built came right as the construction boom slowed down and right before the Great Depression. John Adams High School is still open today. Furthermore, in 1925 the development of the Cross-Bay Movie Theatre gave residents the ability to go and see a show while also connecting with neighbors.
One infamous area of Ozone Park is known as "the hole" which is a term that is used for areas of Ozone Park where houses are below grade. In the 1930s the city of New York decided to install sewers and sewer lines in Ozone Park to stop the serious flooding that was a major problem. In order to install the sewers the houses had to be raised almost an entire floor. Owners were given a stipend to raise their homes but some chose not to raise them leaving them down under. The first floors of some homes subsequently became basements. This area was mostly on 75th, 76th, 77th and 78th streets, although there are still a few homes that are below grade that still have not been raised to this day.
and Irish
made up a large part of Ozone Park in the late 19th century and early 20th century. By 1910 the Italians
, who were one of the largest ethnic groups in the neighborhood from 1915–1983, started to migrate into Ozone Park from East New York, Brooklyn. Most of the current Italians in the neighborhood are originally from Brooklyn. Fears of changing neighborhoods caused a stir amongst the Italians that caused them to move into Ozone Park, which at the time was mostly Germans and Irish who had migrated themselves from neighboring East New York. Census
from the early years show how Ozone Park was a sparsely lived in neighborhood because of the lack of transportation. By 1915 the Fulton Street Line
opened, connecting Ozone Park with the rest of NYC, thus starting the enormous growth by the Italians. Ozone Park then formed many smaller neighborhoods within a neighborhood, trying for separate identities. The Tudor Village section, which is still known by this name, was located on the south bordered by Pitkin Ave and North Conduit Ave and from East to West Cross Bay Blvd and North Conduit Ave. Centerville, which also still uses this name, is bordered by Aqueduct, on the East, and Cross Bay Blvd on the West and North Conduit Ave on the South and Rockaway Blvd on the North. Liberty Heights, which is only known by the old timers, was bordered by Liberty Ave on the South and 101 Ave (Jerome Ave) on the North side and Woodhaven Blvd on the East and Drew Street on the West. Balsam Village, which is also known by the old timers, was named after the farm Balsam Farms after selling off parcels of land for development, is bordered by Liberty Ave on the North and 84 Street on the West and Crossbay Blvd on the East. In the 1980s, e.g. 1985, Ozone Park's NYPD 106th Precinct became the source and scene of several police brutality
incidents by its personnel, e.g. April 17, 1985 stun gun
of high schooler Mark Davidson
.
At the turn of the 21st century immigrants from Latin America, South Asia (Bangladesh
), the West Indies and South America (Indo-Guyanese & Indo-Surinamese) have moved in, adding a diverse atmosphere to the neighborhood, which is especially apparent along 101st Avenue and Liberty Avenue near the neighborhood's border with Richmond Hill. These new arrivals have made Ozone Park become one of the fastest-growing and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in New York City. Aside from these larger groups, there is a large Hispanic
population in Ozone Park, mainly concentrated in the northern portion of the neighborhood near the Woodhaven
border, and an African-American minority, spread throughout the neighborhood.
Residents vary from working-class to middle-class families, who own or rent private homes on the neighborhood's tree-lined residential streets. There are pockets of wealthier areas in the southern part of the neighborhood close to the Belt Parkway
.
, Q11 up Woodhaven Boulevard, Q112 on Liberty Avenue, the Q8 on 101st Avenue, and the Q24 on Atlantic Avenue
. The Q53 also runs on Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard, but stops only at Atlantic Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard.
The New York City Subway
's IND Fulton Street Line
runs along Liberty Avenue, and becomes elevated
upon entering the neighborhood from Brooklyn. The station at Rockaway Boulevard
is a major junction between trains heading towards the Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard
station and trains heading to Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
, an often confusing or unknown detail for tourists on their way to JFK Airport on the latter line.
Public schools
Private schools
Closed schools
Notable current and former residents of Ozone Park include:
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
bordering Woodhaven
Woodhaven, Queens
Woodhaven is a middle-class neighborhood located in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.Woodhaven is bordered on the north by a public park, Forest Park, and Park Lane South. Woodhaven also borders Richmond Hill to the east, and Ozone Park to the south at Atlantic Avenue...
, Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
, South Ozone Park
South Ozone Park, Queens
South Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens. It was originally developed as low-cost housing in the early 1900s. Adjacently north of JFK Airport, its boundaries extend from the Aqueduct Racetrack westward to the Van Wyck Expressway.Its main...
, Howard Beach
Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park, the south by Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th...
, and City Line, Brooklyn
City Line, Brooklyn
City Line is a sub-section of the East New York neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, bordering the neighborhoods of Cypress Hills to the north and Ozone Park, Queens to the east, and the Shore Parkway to the south...
.
Different parts of the neighborhood are covered by Queens Community Board 9
Queens Community Board 9
The Queens Community Board 9 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Kew Gardens...
and 10
Queens Community Board 10
The Queens Community Board 10 is a local government in the New York City borough of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Tudor Village and Lindenwood. It is delimited by the Brooklyn border to the West, Liberty Avenue and 103rd Avenue...
.
The northern border is Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (New York City)
Atlantic Avenue is an important street in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It stretches from the Brooklyn waterfront on the East River all the way to Jamaica, Queens...
; the southern border is South Conduit Avenue, and the eastern border is 108th Street.
The western border is the county line with Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(mostly along Ruby and Drew Streets). It is the home of the Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, a popular spot for thoroughbred racing.
History
During the 1870s, an economic depression caused residents of New York City to look for better housing opportunities in the suburbs of Manhattan and Brooklyn where it would be cheaper. Two partners, Benjamin W. Hitchcock and Charles C. Denton, first began carving farmland into building lots. They were able to do this because of their wealth and substantial capital. Housing was first developed in the area after the Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
began service through the area in 1880 as part of its route from Long Island City
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...
to Howard Beach
Howard Beach, Queens
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park, the south by Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th...
. Ozone Park was created and settled in 1882. The name "Ozone Park" was chosen to "lure buyers with the idea of refreshing breezes blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to a park-like community." Ozone Park was considered the country to all those that lived in Manhattan. Ozone Park was also a very serene place to have loved ones rest in peace, in what was termed the country.
Before the turn of the 20th century, there was an attempt to develop up to nine neighborhoods with the "park" title. Ozone Park was the only one these neighborhoods that continues to exist mostly because of the daily service at the now-defunct Ozone Park station
Ozone Park (LIRR station)
Ozone Park is a former Long Island Rail Road station. Ozone Park station was set up to enable passengers from Pennsylvania Station and Flatbush Avenue to reach the Rockaway Park area or Far Rockaway section simply by changing trains . The trains would stack end-to-end, and passengers would...
on the Long Island Railroad. The name persisted because of the many commuters who passed through the Ozone Park station and referred to it as an important landmark. The railroad station was also responsible for the increasing development of the neighborhood because the access to the railroad allowed people to get into the city easily, increasing its popularity among families looking to move into a suburb.
The final improvement to the local transit system was the elevated railroad line at Liberty Avenue in 1914. In addition to this railroad station came the nickel fare which was another major factor in the development of Ozone Park. The nickel fare gave residents the ability to travel anywhere along the railroad line for a set price of 5¢. This new fare was considered to be the "single most effective stimulus to home building" in the Ozone Park area because the real estate developers began buying up all the lots on either side of Liberty Avenue in hopes the new station would attract more people to want to live in Ozone Park.
Prior to 1922, Woodhaven Boulevard was the only important north-south street in town. Then officials decided to expand Woodhaven Boulevard all the way south to the Rockaways and finally opened to traffic in 1925. This made Ozone Park more accessible by both bus and car. Since cars were also becoming more popular at this time, the land became much more valuable leading to a construction boom in an attempt to fill any empty lot. Between the years of 1921 and 1930, Ozone Park saw a population increase of over 180% from 40,000 to 112,950 people. With this extraordinary increase in population came the need for schools and sources of entertainment. In response to this demand came the construction of John Adams High School in 1930. This school was built came right as the construction boom slowed down and right before the Great Depression. John Adams High School is still open today. Furthermore, in 1925 the development of the Cross-Bay Movie Theatre gave residents the ability to go and see a show while also connecting with neighbors.
One infamous area of Ozone Park is known as "the hole" which is a term that is used for areas of Ozone Park where houses are below grade. In the 1930s the city of New York decided to install sewers and sewer lines in Ozone Park to stop the serious flooding that was a major problem. In order to install the sewers the houses had to be raised almost an entire floor. Owners were given a stipend to raise their homes but some chose not to raise them leaving them down under. The first floors of some homes subsequently became basements. This area was mostly on 75th, 76th, 77th and 78th streets, although there are still a few homes that are below grade that still have not been raised to this day.
Demographics
Since its beginnings, Ozone Park has been largely populated by different groups of immigrants. GermansGerman American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
and Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
made up a large part of Ozone Park in the late 19th century and early 20th century. By 1910 the Italians
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, who were one of the largest ethnic groups in the neighborhood from 1915–1983, started to migrate into Ozone Park from East New York, Brooklyn. Most of the current Italians in the neighborhood are originally from Brooklyn. Fears of changing neighborhoods caused a stir amongst the Italians that caused them to move into Ozone Park, which at the time was mostly Germans and Irish who had migrated themselves from neighboring East New York. Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
from the early years show how Ozone Park was a sparsely lived in neighborhood because of the lack of transportation. By 1915 the Fulton Street Line
Fulton Street Line
Fulton Street Line refers to the following transit lines:*IND Fulton Street Line *BMT Fulton Street Line *Fulton Street Line...
opened, connecting Ozone Park with the rest of NYC, thus starting the enormous growth by the Italians. Ozone Park then formed many smaller neighborhoods within a neighborhood, trying for separate identities. The Tudor Village section, which is still known by this name, was located on the south bordered by Pitkin Ave and North Conduit Ave and from East to West Cross Bay Blvd and North Conduit Ave. Centerville, which also still uses this name, is bordered by Aqueduct, on the East, and Cross Bay Blvd on the West and North Conduit Ave on the South and Rockaway Blvd on the North. Liberty Heights, which is only known by the old timers, was bordered by Liberty Ave on the South and 101 Ave (Jerome Ave) on the North side and Woodhaven Blvd on the East and Drew Street on the West. Balsam Village, which is also known by the old timers, was named after the farm Balsam Farms after selling off parcels of land for development, is bordered by Liberty Ave on the North and 84 Street on the West and Crossbay Blvd on the East. In the 1980s, e.g. 1985, Ozone Park's NYPD 106th Precinct became the source and scene of several police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
incidents by its personnel, e.g. April 17, 1985 stun gun
Stun gun
Stun gun may refer to:*Electroshock weapon, an incapacitant weapon that momentarily disables a person with an electric shock*Directed-energy weapon, a weapon that emits energy in an aimed direction without projectile, if it causes unconsciousness...
of high schooler Mark Davidson
Mark Davidson
Mark Anthony "Mat" Davidson was an Australian politician.Davidson was born in Sydney and left school at 12 to work on a coastal vessel trading with the Pacific islands. He then worked as a bushworker, shearer and tank sinker in the Monaro. He worked as miner from about 1888 to 1896 in Victoria,...
.
At the turn of the 21st century immigrants from Latin America, South Asia (Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), the West Indies and South America (Indo-Guyanese & Indo-Surinamese) have moved in, adding a diverse atmosphere to the neighborhood, which is especially apparent along 101st Avenue and Liberty Avenue near the neighborhood's border with Richmond Hill. These new arrivals have made Ozone Park become one of the fastest-growing and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in New York City. Aside from these larger groups, there is a large Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
population in Ozone Park, mainly concentrated in the northern portion of the neighborhood near the Woodhaven
Woodhaven, Queens
Woodhaven is a middle-class neighborhood located in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.Woodhaven is bordered on the north by a public park, Forest Park, and Park Lane South. Woodhaven also borders Richmond Hill to the east, and Ozone Park to the south at Atlantic Avenue...
border, and an African-American minority, spread throughout the neighborhood.
Residents vary from working-class to middle-class families, who own or rent private homes on the neighborhood's tree-lined residential streets. There are pockets of wealthier areas in the southern part of the neighborhood close to the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
.
Transportation
There are many bus routes that run through Ozone Park. The Q7 runs on Rockaway Boulevard, Q21 and Q41 run on Cross Bay BoulevardCross Bay Boulevard
Cross Bay Boulevard is the main north–south road in Howard Beach, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. In the south, it originates in The Rockaways, runs over the Cross Bay Bridge into Broad Channel and then over the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge into Howard Beach...
, Q11 up Woodhaven Boulevard, Q112 on Liberty Avenue, the Q8 on 101st Avenue, and the Q24 on Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (New York City)
Atlantic Avenue is an important street in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It stretches from the Brooklyn waterfront on the East River all the way to Jamaica, Queens...
. The Q53 also runs on Woodhaven Boulevard and Cross Bay Boulevard, but stops only at Atlantic Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard.
The New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
's IND Fulton Street Line
IND Fulton Street Line
The IND Fulton Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway, extending from the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River through all of central Brooklyn to a terminus in Ozone Park, Queens. The IND Rockaway Line branches from it. It forms part of the A...
runs along Liberty Avenue, and becomes elevated
Elevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
upon entering the neighborhood from Brooklyn. The station at Rockaway Boulevard
Rockaway Boulevard (IND Fulton Street Line)
Rockaway Boulevard is a station on the IND Fulton Street Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Rockaway Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard/Cross Bay Boulevard, and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens, it is served by the A train at all times.This station has two side...
is a major junction between trains heading towards the Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard
Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard (IND Fulton Street Line)
Ozone Park – Lefferts Boulevard is an elevated terminal station on the IND Fulton Street Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Queens...
station and trains heading to Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue (IND Rockaway Line)
Far Rockaway – Mott Avenue is the eastern terminal station on the New York City Subway's IND Rockaway Line. Originally a Long Island Rail Road station, it is the full-time southern terminal for the A train and the easternmost station on the New York City Subway...
, an often confusing or unknown detail for tourists on their way to JFK Airport on the latter line.
Onscreen (film)
- Boss of BossesBoss of BossesBoss of Bosses is a 2001 made for TV movie about the life of former Gambino Family boss Paul Castellano. It stars Chazz Palminteri as Paul Castellano, Patricia Mauceri as his wife Nina, Mark Margolis as Joseph Armone, and Angela Alvarado as his mistress Gloria Olarte.This film focuses on Paul...
(starring Chazz PalminteriChazz PalminteriCalogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri is an American actor and writer, best known for his performances in The Usual Suspects, A Bronx Tale, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Bullets Over Broadway....
) features a scene with John Gotti in Ozone Park at the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club - A Bronx TaleA Bronx TaleA Bronx Tale is a 1993 American crime drama film set in The Bronx during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of Robert De Niro, and follows a young Italian-American teenager as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro and Chazz Palminteri...
features a scene set at Aqueduct RacetrackAqueduct RacetrackAqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:... - GoodfellasGoodfellasGoodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
is an Academy Award-winning gangster film that takes place in and around Ozone Park, Queens - Lucky Number SlevinLucky Number SlevinLucky Number Slevin, renamed for the German/USA DVDs as Lucky # Slevin , is a 2006 crime thriller film written by Jason Smilovic, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, and Lucy Liu...
contains a scene at the beginning wherein the father and son are at Aqueduct Racetrack - Searching for Bobby DeNiro (aka Movers and Fakers) was filmed in Aldos II Pizzeria in Ozone Park
- A Shock to the SystemA Shock to the SystemA Shock to the System is a U.S. comedy crime thriller film directed by Jan Egleson, starring Michael Caine, Swoosie Kurtz, Elizabeth McGovern, and Peter Riegert...
(1990) contains a scene filmed in the old Aqueduct Raceway Station
Onscreen (television)
- All in the FamilyAll in the FamilyAll in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
s (1970s TV sitcom) principals, Archie and Edith Bunker, had cousins who lived in Ozone Park - Getting GottiGetting GottiGetting Gotti is a 1994 TV film centered on a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney named Diane Giacalone, and her attempts to build a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act case against John Gotti and the Gambino crime family. It was shot in Toronto, Ontario.-Cast:The movie starred...
(1994 TV film starring Lorraine BraccoLorraine BraccoLorraine Bracco is an American actress. She is best known for her TV roles as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on HBO series, The Sopranos, and Angela Rizzoli on the TNT series, Rizzoli & Isles...
) is based on a real life woman, Diane Giacalone, who grew up in Ozone Park and through the years first-handedly watched Gotti rise to power on the streets of Ozone Park. She eventually became an Assistant US Attorney and built up a case against him. - The The King Of QueensThe King of QueensThe King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007.This show was produced by Hanley Productions and CBS Productions , CBS Paramount Television ,and CBS Television Studios in association with Columbia TriStar Television , and Sony Pictures...
TV sitcom often contains scenes in which the old United Artists Cross Bay movie theatre on Rockaway Boulevard can be seen - The Perfect Crimes History Channel documentary features the Lufthansa heistLufthansa heistThe Lufthansa heist was a robbery at John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 11, 1978. An estimated $5 million in cash and $875,000 in jewels were stolen, at the time making it the largest cash robbery ever committed on American soil...
and discusses the Lucchese crime familyLucchese crime familyThe Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
crews living, killing and running businesses in Ozone Park - The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
character, Rusty Millio (played by Frankie ValliFrankie ValliFrankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
), lives in Ozone Park, as revealed in the episode "Live Free or Die"
Other
- Jack LordJack LordJohn Joseph Patrick Ryan , best known by his stage name Jack Lord, was an American television, film, and Broadway actor. He was known for his starring role as Steve McGarrett in the American television program Hawaii Five-O from 1968 to 1980. Lord appeared in feature films earlier in his career,...
, from the 1960s Hawaii Five-0 TV series, attended John Adams High School, located on Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park - Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
celebrated mass for 75,000 people at Ozone Park's Aqueduct Racetrack in October 1995
Schools
- P.S. 63 Old South School
- P.S. 64 Joseph P. Addabbo School
- P.S. 65 The Raymond York Elementary School
- Middle School 137 America's School-Heroes
- Junior High School 202 R. H. Goddard
- Robert H Goddard High School Of Technology and Communications 308
- Junior High School 210 Elizabeth Blackwell
- John Adams High SchoolJohn Adams High School (Jamaica/Ozone Park, NY)For schools with similar names, see Adams High School.John Adams High School is a public high school in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, New York City. John Adams High School, Samuel J...
- High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and ArchitectureHigh School for Construction Trades, Engineering and ArchitectureThe High School For Construction Trades Engineering And Architecture was established in 2006 by the New York Department of Education. It was intended to support its students to the fields of architecture, engineering or construction trades. In the 2009-2010 school year this highschool is going to...
Private schools
- St Elizabeth's RC Elementary
- St Mary Gate of Heaven RC Elementary
- Divine Mercy Catholic Academy (originally Nativity B.V.M. and St. Stanislaus Schools, which were combined renamed in 2007)
- Little Dolphin Pre-School
- Our Lady of Perpetual Hope
- Our Lady's Catholic Academy
Closed schools
- Our Lady of Wisdom RC Secondary
Notable residents
- Ray AbruzzoRay AbruzzoRay Abruzzo is an Italian-American actor, noted for his appearances on television.He made regular appearances in the following series: Dynasty , The Practice and The Sopranos .Other TV credits include: Falcon Crest, Murder She Wrote, L.A...
- Actor (The Sopranos) - Joseph Patrick AddabboJoseph Patrick AddabboJoseph Patrick Addabbo was a New York City politician who served as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1986...
- Congressman and has P.S. 64 named after him. - Joseph Addabbo, Jr.Joseph Addabbo, Jr.Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. is an American politician, a Democratic member of the New York State Senate from the 15th District representing Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth and parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Rego Park and Sunnyside...
, member of the New York City CouncilNew York City CouncilThe New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
from the 32nd Council District. - Pedro BeatoPedro BeatoPedro Beato is a relief pitcher for the New York Mets.Beato attended Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, New York. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 17th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. He opted to attend St. Petersburg College...
, relief pitcher of the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League... - Charles Camarda - astronaut, Mission Specialist on STS-114STS-114-Original crew:This mission was to carry the Expedition 7 crew to the ISS and bring home the Expedition 6 crew. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:...
- The CaprisThe CaprisThe Capris are an Italian-American Doo Wop group originating in the Ozone Park section of Queens, New York in the late 1950s.-Biography:The group originated in Ozone Park, Queens in 1957 when they were teenagers...
- 1950s Doo Wop group. Smith / W.9th Street - Gerald EdelmanGerald EdelmanGerald Maurice Edelman is an American biologist who shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work with Rodney Robert Porter on the immune system. Edelman's Nobel Prize-winning research concerned discovery of the structure of antibody molecules...
(1929-), 1972 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineNobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineThe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
. - Elizabeth EdenElizabeth EdenElizabeth Debbie "Liz" Eden was an American transsexual woman whose boyfriend John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a bank to pay for her sex reassignment surgery. The incident was made into the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon...
(1946–1987), Real life character of "Leon" from the 1975 film Dog Day AfternoonDog Day AfternoonDog Day Afternoon is a 1975 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, written by Frank Pierson, and produced by Martin Bregman. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, Penny Allen, James Broderick, and Carol Kane. The title refers to the "dog days of summer".The film was...
. - Peter FacinelliPeter FacinelliPeter Facinelli is an American actor. He became known as the star of Fox's 2002 television series Fastlane. He plays Carlisle Cullen in the film adaptations of the Twilight series. He is also well known for his role as Mike Dexter in the film Can't Hardly Wait...
- (born November 26, 1973), actor. - John FrascatoreJohn FrascatoreJohn Vincent Frascatore , is a former professional baseball pitcher who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1994-2001. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays...
(1970-), baseball player - Diane Giacalone former Assistant U.S. Attorney and John Gotti prosecutor
- John GottiJohn GottiJohn Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
(1940–2002) Mafia boss - Neal HeatonNeal HeatonNeal Heaton is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees from 1982 to 1993.Heaton was drafted by the Indians in the 2nd round of the 1981...
(1960-), MLB baseball pitcher - Carol HeissCarol HeissCarol Elizabeth Heiss Jenkins is an American figure skater. She is the 1960 Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, 1956 Olympic silver medalist and five-time World Champion .-Biography:...
(1940-), Olympics figure skater - Jimmy Herring, middleweight boxer
- Jack KerouacJack KerouacJean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
(1922–1969), writer. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, he lived in Ozone Park with his parents after discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1943. He wrote his first novel, The Town and the City, as well as the quintessential On the RoadOn the RoadOn the Road is a novel by American writer Jack Kerouac, written in April 1951, and published by Viking Press in 1957. It is a largely autobiographical work that was based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across mid-century America. It is often considered a defining work of...
while living in Ozone Park. His friends jokingly called him "The Wizard of Ozone Park". - Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
(1953-), singer/actress. (104th Street) - Bernadette PetersBernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
(1948-), actress/singer. - Peter PolacoPeter PolacoPeter Joseph Polaco is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Justin Credible. He is also known for his earlier stint with the WWF under the ringname Aldo Montoya...
, American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, "Justin Credible". - Nick ScottiNick ScottiNick Scotti is an American actor, model and singer.Scotti left high school to travel the world for a career in modeling, moving to Japan at age 17 and France at age 19. In the process, he became a popular male model...
- actor, singer, and model - Anthony TrentacostaAnthony TrentacostaAnthony Trentacosta , also known as "Tony Pep", was a New York mobster and Caporegime with the Gambino crime family who headed one of their factions in South Florida.- Moving south :...
- Gambino Family - Joe Lo TruglioJoe Lo TruglioJoseph "Joe" Lo Truglio is an American actor, writer and comedian best known for his work as a cast member on the cult MTV sketch comedy series The State...
(1970-), actor - Eric UlrichEric UlrichEric A. Ulrich is a Republican politician from New York City Borough of Queens.- Early life and education :...
- member of the New York City CouncilNew York City CouncilThe New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
from the 32nd Council District - Thomas Von EssenThomas Von EssenThomas Von Essen was appointed the 30th FDNY Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani on April 15, 1996 and served in that position until the end of the Giuliani Administration on December 31, 2001, nearly four months after the September 11, 2001 attacks.In 2002 he was...
- Senior Vice President at Giuliani Partners and 30th New York City Fire Commissioner. - Debra WilsonDebra WilsonDebra Wilson Skelton , professionally known as Debra Wilson or Debra Wilzon, is an American comedienne and actress. Wilson is likely most famous for being the second longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv, having appeared for the show's first eight seasons...
(1962-), actress, comedienne, voice actress, and TV presenter