The CWA constructed this park at Corlears Hook. From a 1934 New York City Parks Department press release: “Facilities: An open shelter is to be erected. There are four handball, four horse-shoe pitching, one volley ball, two basketball and shuffle… read more
Corlears Hook Park is located on the Lower East Side across FDR Drive from the East River. The park was completed in 1905. In 1934, the Department of Parks announced the opening of a new playground in the park constructed… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve Cornell University in Ithaca, New York during the 1930s. One project, which cost $5,397 (of which the WPA acontributed $2,321) was described by the WPA in its project rolls: “[P]rovide for added… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the grounds of the Veterinary College of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York during the 1930s. The school was then located at “its original site at the southeast corner of East Avenue… read more
NYC Parks recounts: “The land that is now Corona Golf Playground was previously a strip of wasteland, known as the Corona Ash Dumps. In his classic novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald described the area as ‘a valley of… read more
This Brooklyn courthouse was constructed by the PWA in 1938 and today still houses a New York appellate court. A 1939 PWA publication described the then new courthouse: “This building houses the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Division,… read more
The Queens County Supreme Court building in Jamaica was constructed as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. Short and Stanley-Brown: “This structure houses the 23 civil courts of Queens County and provides quarters for the judges, the clerk of the… read more
This small playground in East Harlem was named after “New York City’s first African American Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Affairs.” NYC Parks explains that the City acquired this land in 1936. In June 1937, Parks announced the completion of a… read more
“In 1937, the old pavilion was finally replaced with a Mediterranean style brick and concrete building designed by Huntington architect David Dusenberry that featured men’s and women’s locker rooms, showers and lavatories. The locker rooms would be in the two… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Staten Island street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced… read more
The WPA made numerous improvements to the rapidly growing Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Jamaica, New York during the 1930s. Projects included: the installation of “underground piping for heating”; “excavation and construction of steam tunnels”; the “planting of trees and shrubs”;… read more
This playground is named for the first African American to be killed in the American War of Independence. It opened on October 28, 1934, along with two other playgrounds, one in Manhattan and one in the Bronx. The press release… read more
NYC Parks explains that, “By 1936, the City had turned the area into a park with picnic grounds, winding walks, an enlarged lake for wintertime skating, and thousands of trees.” What is now known as the Buz O’Rourke Playground in… read more
A June 1936 press release announced the opening of a new playground at this site in Crocheron Park with “a large central grass panel surrounded by play apparatus for small children.” NYC Parks confirms that this playground was built on… read more
NYC Parks explains that, “By 1936, the City had turned the area into a park with picnic grounds, winding walks, an enlarged lake for wintertime skating, and thousands of trees.” On April 3, 1937, the Department of Parks announced the… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Bronx street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced with… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Bronx street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced with… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration undertook a large road repair project starting in 1935 in the borough of Queens. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were repaired; particular emphasis was placed on fixing washout-damaged stretches… read more
“This Olympic-size swimming pool and bathhouse complex opened on July 24, 1936. It was one of ten dedicated that year by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888-1981). The project, funded by a special Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant of $10 million,… read more
The park existed before the Depression, but was completely rebuilt in 1934-41 by the WPA: “As ice skating grew popular in the Bronx around the turn of the century, Parks paved the perimeter of Indian Pond and installed a warming… read more
“Indian Pond and boathouse at Crotona Park, June 2014. The boat house was [] built by the WPA as part of the massive reconstruction of Crotona that was completed in 1941. The pond is covered with algae and choked with… read more
The federal Public Works Administration (PWA) sponsored a large school/addition construction project in Cuba, New York during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $247,500 grant for the project, whose total cost was $544,637. Construction occurred between Jan. 1938 and… read more
This Works Progress Administration photo shows one of the culverts constructed by the WPA in Blasdell, New York. The WPA caption locates the culverts on the following streets: Avon, Orchard, Gilbert, and Merian (WPA). More information is needed about the… read more
One of the five restored Alice in Wonderland murals painted by Abram Champanier in 1938-40 is hung in the Cumberland Center at 100 N Portland Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205. The mural was originally created for the Gouverneur Hospital children’s ward in lower… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved roads in Plattsburgh, New York, including Cumberland Head Road, in 1936.
“Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia dedicated the plaza in Cunningham’s memory near the center of the park in 1936. That year marked the completion of work by the Works Progress Administration and the Parks Department to develop the southern part of the… read more
In 1937 an addition to Staten Island’s Curtis High School was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building is still in use today.
Originally constructed in 1809-1910 and privately owned, the U.S. government purchased what is now the Robert C. McEwen U.S. Custom House, completely renovating it for federal purposes, during the New Deal era. GSA: “The George Hall Corporation, a shipping company, owned… read more
The Cyclorama Building was built in 1888 and showcased a variety of cycloramic exhibits, including “The Crucifixion of Christ” and “The Battle of Gettysburg.” The city of Buffalo acquired the building in 1910, using it as a livery and taxi… read more
The WPA undertook work during the 1930s to improve Brooklyn, New York’s Cypress Hills National Cemetery (the only National Cemetery in New York City). One $110,000 project entailed: “[R]ehabilitate grounds and buildings which includes tree surgery, aligning, setting and resetting… read more
The New York Times reported in 1941 that, as part of WPA efforts, Brooklyn would receive six new playgrounds, located at: “Third Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, Second Avenue and Fifty-fifth Street, Fort Hamilton Parkway and Fifty-second Street, Albany and Foster… read more
NYC Parks explains: “O’Connell Playground opened on July 15, 1934, and is one of nine playgrounds that were built by Parks through the War Memorial Fund. The Fund was established in 1921 with $250,000 collected by the Police Department. In… read more
This park was first established in 1901. In October 1941, the WPA and the Department of Parks completed the reconstruction of the park: “The old pavilion and comfort station was demolished and replaced by a modern brick building. The play… read more
Now known as Decatur Playground, this playground adjacent to Public School 35 opened in September 1942. It is jointly operated by Parks and the Board of Education. A press release announced the completion of the playground: “The playground, approximately 200… read more
The overpass carrying Dehart Avenue over what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway) was constructed during the mid-1930s, in conjunction with the lowering of the railroad right-of-way, as one link in a massive… read more
Delaware Academy, in Delhi, New York was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building bears a 1939 cornerstone and Federal Works Agency: Public Works Administration plaque.
This photo shows a “twin arch bridge” on Delaware Ave. under construction by the WPA in 1936. Google maps shows that the bridge is still standing.
The major thoroughfare of Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York was improved substantially ca. 1936 by federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor. More than 400 men were put to work as part of this effort.
Living New Deal believes that the former school building—now Delaware Regional Center—at 15598 State Highway 8 in Masonville, New York was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building exhibits a 1941 cornerstone.
A money-saving, efficiency-increasing Department of Purchase warehouse in Long Island City was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It is still in use by the city, presently by the Board of Education. The New York Times reported in 1938:… read more
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
