Queensbridge

Queensbridge Houses is the largest public housing development in the United States. Queensbridge which is located in Long Island City, New York in Queens opened in 1933. The 3,142 unit complex is the country's largest such housing project and is owned by the New York City Housing Authority.

Amenities and parks

The US Congress would only approve funds for public housing (the 1937 Wagner Act) if the housing was unattractive to middle-class families who would otherwise buy or rent homes in the private housing market. The original plans nonetheless included some basic amenities, like a central shopping center, a nursery, and six inner courtyards for play. In the 1950's, there were also three playschool rooms, a library and a beautiful community center with an auditorium where shows were put on, a gymnasium with a wooden floor that doubled as a wooden-wheels roller skating rink, activity rooms downstairs, and a cafeteria upstairs where the playschool children ate their lunches. Some of the downstairs activities included tap dancing; ballet; art; playing the recorder and singing; pool, knock hockey and table tennis; and girl and boy scout meetings.

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The buildings in the complex are divided by a series of paths and small lawns. Also in the complex are several basketball courts. Like most parks, benches line the courts and play-areas in the Queensbridge housing complex. Across Vernon Boulevard lies Queensbridge Park, which has a fully lit baseball diamond, running paths, lawns, and areas for picnicking. That park, home the Queensbridge little league, is the primary place of recreation for tenants of the projects. Queensbridge Park is the venue for numerous summer-time live concerts with music ranging from R&B to Latin.

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During the 1950's, Queensbridge Park was called "River Park," after the East River that runs next to it.

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