Henry Parker
In the 1920s, Rockaway Boulevard was a long and varied roadway, serving as the main artery connecting the neighborhoods of southern Queens to the popular beaches of the Rockaway Peninsula. The boulevard was a study in contrasts, its character changing dramatically along its miles-long route. In some sections, it was a developing commercial street, while in others, it ran through wide-open, semi-rural landscapes.
The decade was a period of significant growth for the communities along the boulevard, such as Ozone Park and South Ozone Park. The extension of elevated train lines nearby spurred a housing boom, bringing new residents and creating a demand for local services. As a result, clusters of new one- and two-story commercial buildings began to rise along Rockaway Boulevard. These brick structures housed grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries, and hardware shops that catered to the new homeowners.
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A major landmark defining the boulevard was the Aqueduct Racetrack. The track, which had operated for decades, drew large crowds, and Rockaway Boulevard was a primary route for racegoers. On race days, the boulevard bustled with automobiles, a sight that became increasingly common throughout the decade, as well as pedestrians heading to and from the nearby Long Island Rail Road station that served the track.
Further east and south, the boulevard stretched through less developed areas. Here, the road was bordered by expanses of open fields, small farms, and undeveloped marshland. It acted as a clear dividing line between established neighborhoods and the open spaces that would be filled in by development in the coming decades. For travelers heading toward the Rockaways, this part of the journey offered a transition from the city to a more natural landscape.
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