Marine Park Brooklyn

The neighborhood of Marine Park is centered around Gerritsen Creek, which marks the westernmost inlet of Jamaica Bay. Over the centuries, ocean currents have deposited strips of sand, forming surf barriers that facilitate the growth of salt marshes. Gerritsen Creek itself was once a freshwater stream, extending farther inland than it does today. In 1920, the section of the creek north of Avenue U was covered, although it still provides freshwater to the salt marsh, supporting a diverse range of organisms.

Historically, Marine Park served as a hunting and fishing ground for Native Americans from the nearby village of Keshawchqueren. Archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of their presence, including cooking pits dating back to 800 to 1400 AD, as well as remains of deer, turtles, oysters, and sturgeons.

In the 17th century, Dutch settlers began to inhabit the area, attracted by its resemblance to the marshlands and coastal plains of the Netherlands. The land proved to be fertile for farming, and abundant in clams, oysters, and game.

Concerned about preserving the pristine marshland around Gerritsen Creek, Frederick B. Pratt and Alfred T. White offered 150 acres of land to the city for use as a park in 1917. After some delay, the city accepted the offer, inspiring developers to build new homes in the area. In 1926, the Marine Park Civic Association was formed, although improvements to the park were slow to materialize. Over time, additional land purchases and the depositing of fill in the marshlands expanded the park’s area to 1,822 acres by 1937. That year, the Board of Aldermen officially named the site Brooklyn Marine Park.