Springfield Gardens, Queens

Springfield Gardens, Queens
Springfield Gardens is a neighborhood in the southeastern area of the New York City borough of Queens, bounded to the north by St. Albans, to the east by Laurelton and Rosedale, to the south by John F. Kennedy International Airport, and to the west by Farmers Boulevard. The neighborhood is served by Queens Community Board 12. The area, particularly east of Springfield Boulevard, is sometimes also referred to as Brookville.
History
The area was first settled by Europeans in 1660, and was subsequently farmed until the mid nineteenth-century.
Major residential development came in the 1920s as Long Island Rail Road service was expanded to the area at the Springfield Gardens station (closed in 1979). Between 1920 and 1930 the population increased from 3,046 to 13,089, with a lot of the newcomers being people from Brooklyn seeking out suburban homes. In 1927, the name of the community was changed to the more elegant Springfield Gardens.
Farmers Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard, Springfield Boulevard, Rockaway Boulevard, and Guy R. Brewer Boulevard all are major streets in the area.
Today the area maintains its low-rise suburban nature. It is home to majority Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean populations including immigrants from Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti and Guyana. Many homes have been torn down and remade for more families as more people move into the neighborhood. Part is in a Registered historic District. Springfield Gardens is located within ZIP Codes 11434 (western part) and 11413 (eastern part).
Recreation
Springfield Park consists of , including the sizable Springfield Lake at its center. It is located on the west side of Springfield Boulevard between 145th Road and 147th Avenue.
The Brookville Park is located on the eastern border of Springfield Gardens (next to Rosedale). It is bounded by South Conduit Avenue, 149th Avenue, and 232nd and 235th Streets. It contains Conselyea's Pond.
Transportation
Brookville is served by the Rosedale and Laurelton Long Island Rail Road stations. Service is provided by the Far Rockaway Branch and Long Beach Branch. The CityTicket program is available at these stations.
The Q3 bus travels along Farmers Boulevard towards to the 165th Street Bus Terminal in Jamaica or JFK Airport. The Q85 bus travels along South Conduit Boulevard towards Rosedale or Green Acres Mall, and North Conduit Boulevard towards the Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer subway station. The Q111 travels to Rosedale and Jamaica, Queens via 147th Avenue along with the Q113 and Q114 via 147th Avenue to Jamaica, Queens and Far Rockaway. No express bus routes serve Brookville directly however the X63, provides rush hour only service to neighboring Rosedale. The Q77 bus travels along Springfield Boulevard and Francis Lewis Boulevard to Jamaica-165 St Bus Terminal and terminates at the border of Brookville and Springfield Gardens on 145th Road and Springfield Boulevard.
Notable residents
Khandi Alexander (born 1957), dancer, choreographer, and actress.
Frances Goldin (1924–2020), housing rights activist and literary agent in New York City.
John Robert Grant (1729–1790), Loyalist who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Cynthia Jenkins (1924–2001), librarian, community activist and politician who served in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 1994.
Anthony Mason (1966–2015), professional basketball player who played for 13 seasons in the NBA.
Lil Tecca (born 2002), rapper, singer and songwriter.
Eric Truvillion (born 1959), wide receiver who played in the USFL for the Tampa Bay Bandits and in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.
References
Caribbean-American culture in New York City
Guyanese American
Haitian-American culture in New York City
Jamaican-American history
Neighborhoods in Queens, New York
Working-class culture in New York City