clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

New York City's 20 tiniest parks, mapped

If you can barely stand in it, does it even count as a park?

View as Map

Just like some people don't think a 90-square-foot studio is a real apartment, a lot of people probably won't consider a 1/1000-acre sliver of land a park. But the Parks Department oversees dozens of outdoor sites that are about the size of a micro unit. In our week-long search to shout out all things tiny, the Parks Department graciously sent a list of the 20 smallest properties under their control.

All of these places are triangles sandwiched between streets, more than half are in Queens, and most serve as memorials, so they pack a surprising amount of history. They do not, however, provide a very relaxing environment to connect with nature, but you can find 29 of those kind of parks right here.

A spokesperson for the Parks Department says that many of these sites "were created through the reconfiguration of roadways" and they are named through local law or the by the Parks Commissioner.

Read More

Luke J. Lang Square

Copy Link

Behold, the smallest parkland in all of New York City. Measuring a minuscule 1/1000 of an acre, Lang Square is barely more than a few hedges, but in the 1930s, it held a flagpole, several benches, and three Norway maples, which makes one think that it used to be a much larger space. In 2000, the city spent $13,353 to give it new sidewalks.

Joyce Kilmer Triangle

Copy Link

This patch also measures 1/1000th of an acre, but it certainly looks much larger than Lang Triangle. It's named after Joyce Kilmer, a poet and writer who worked for the New York Times. It's entirely unclear why this location was chosen, but it has been parkland since 1934, and named Kilmer Triangle since 1935.

Middleburgh Triangle

Copy Link

From 1652 to 1664, the area of Maspeth, where this desolate-looking wedge sits, was known as Middleburgh, named such for a city in the Netherlands. The Parks Department has controlled the space since 1918, even though it's never been more than a traffic triangle with a bus stop.

Dwyer Square

Copy Link

John J. Dwyer was a Queens native who died in World War I, and this triangle first took his name in 1932. The park measures .002 acres and holds a flagpole, benches, three Japanese pagoda trees, a honey locust tree, and a green ash tree.

Dunningham Triangle

Copy Link

DNAinfo has managed to write five stories about this .003-acre piece of land, named for Jabez E. Dunningham, who lived in Elmhurst from the 1920s until his death in 1945. The park has been upgraded several times, most recently receiving $200,000 in 2012 for new seating and landscaping.

Freedom Triangle

Copy Link

The highlight of Freedom Triangle, a .004-acre slice of land in Bushwick, is a scuplture called Victory With Peace, depicting Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, leaning forward with an olive branch. It was erected in 1921 to honor the Brooklynites who died in World War I.

Corporal Frank F. Fagan Square

Copy Link

Named for WWI veteran Corporal Frank F. Fagan, Fagan Square sits at a busy Astoria intersection near the N/R train and William Cullen Bryant High School. The .004-acre site has been parkland since 1915, and today, it's part of the Greenstreets program

Fidelity Triangle

Copy Link

Here's another patch of greenery to honor New Yorkers who died in WWI combat. The site is just 1/200 of an acre and holds three London planetrees, and as well as seven World's Fair benches (aka the traditional park bench, which was introduced at the 1939 World's Fair).

Jacob Riis Triangle

Copy Link

Given how famous and influential Jacob Riis was, he could have a triangle named for him anywhere in the city, but the Parks Department chose this site in the 1990s because Riis lived in the neighborhood, Richmond Hill. Parks acquired the site in 1945, and it was originally known as Babbage Triangle, until a council member lobbied for the change. It measures 1/200 of an acre.

Alben Triangle

Copy Link

A flagpole and modest memorial sit in the center of Alben Triangle, named for Bud H. Alben, who was killed during WWI. The memorial was created by the VFW post named for Alben, and it became city property in 1935. It measures 1/200 of an acre.

Glendale Veterans Memorial Triangle

Copy Link

The residents of Glendale paid for this memorial to honor their 21 neighbors who died fighting in WWI. It features a bronze bas relief of a female holding a torch set in granite, along with the inscribed names of the veterans. The triangle, sandwiched between Myrtle and Cooper avenues, clocks in at 1/200 of an acre.

Catholic War Veterans Triangle

Copy Link

Why yes, this is another war memorial triangle. The Parks Department has little information about this .006-acre Queens property on its website, but the brick-paved open space features a stone cross sculpture surrounded by trees and a few benches.

Dahill Triangle

Copy Link

The Parks Department also has no historic information about Dahill Triangle, which sits on Dahill Road in south Brooklyn. The .006-acre space holds a path of hedge-lined grass and one tree.

Garlinge Triangle

Copy Link

Measuring a roomy 1/125 of an acre, Garlinge Triangle commemorates the Maspeth, Queens residents who died in combat during WWI. It features a monument at center, as well as a flagpole and some benches.

Wellbrock Triangle

Copy Link

Another community-funded memorial sits in the 1/125-acre Wellbrock Triangle in Ozone Park. This obelisk also honors those who died in World War I.

American Triangle

Copy Link

Coming in at .009 acres, American Triangle, named such for unknown reasons, holds several benches and trees. The surrounding streets are lined in shops, and the park seems to get a steady stream of foot traffic.

Barnhill Square

Copy Link

The only Bronx site on this list, Barnhill Square sits across the street from Kingsbridge Armory. The Parks Department has no information online about its origins, but the park's benches may soon see a lot more action if the Armory's redevelopment manages to push through.

Albert E. Short Triangle Park

Copy Link

Albert E. Short lived his entire life in Long Island City, and served as the Queens Assistant District Attorney from 1938 to 1951. The triangle named for him measures 1/100 of an acre and sits beside the Court Square subway station, the construction of which seems to have eliminated a Norway maple. The Parks website says that in 1997 "a baby Weeping cherry tree was planted in the center of the triangle to accompany the long-standing Norway maple tree that stands at the triangle’s western corner," but Google Street View makes it clear that all of the triangle's trees are young.

McKenna Triangle

Copy Link

Named for Long Island City native Major James A. McKenna, who died in WWI, this 1/100-acre park became city property in 1911. It was named for McKenna in 1919, and today features trees, benches, and bike parking.

Clemens Triangle

Copy Link

In Ridgewood, Clemens Triangle honors Carl E. Clemens, the former owner of The Ridgewood Times. The 1/100-acre park is simple, holding just a few benches shaded by large trees, but it's in a busy commercial district, so its seats are well-used.

Loading comments...

Luke J. Lang Square

Behold, the smallest parkland in all of New York City. Measuring a minuscule 1/1000 of an acre, Lang Square is barely more than a few hedges, but in the 1930s, it held a flagpole, several benches, and three Norway maples, which makes one think that it used to be a much larger space. In 2000, the city spent $13,353 to give it new sidewalks.

Joyce Kilmer Triangle

This patch also measures 1/1000th of an acre, but it certainly looks much larger than Lang Triangle. It's named after Joyce Kilmer, a poet and writer who worked for the New York Times. It's entirely unclear why this location was chosen, but it has been parkland since 1934, and named Kilmer Triangle since 1935.

Middleburgh Triangle

From 1652 to 1664, the area of Maspeth, where this desolate-looking wedge sits, was known as Middleburgh, named such for a city in the Netherlands. The Parks Department has controlled the space since 1918, even though it's never been more than a traffic triangle with a bus stop.

Dwyer Square

John J. Dwyer was a Queens native who died in World War I, and this triangle first took his name in 1932. The park measures .002 acres and holds a flagpole, benches, three Japanese pagoda trees, a honey locust tree, and a green ash tree.

Dunningham Triangle

DNAinfo has managed to write five stories about this .003-acre piece of land, named for Jabez E. Dunningham, who lived in Elmhurst from the 1920s until his death in 1945. The park has been upgraded several times, most recently receiving $200,000 in 2012 for new seating and landscaping.

Freedom Triangle

The highlight of Freedom Triangle, a .004-acre slice of land in Bushwick, is a scuplture called Victory With Peace, depicting Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, leaning forward with an olive branch. It was erected in 1921 to honor the Brooklynites who died in World War I.

Corporal Frank F. Fagan Square

Named for WWI veteran Corporal Frank F. Fagan, Fagan Square sits at a busy Astoria intersection near the N/R train and William Cullen Bryant High School. The .004-acre site has been parkland since 1915, and today, it's part of the Greenstreets program

Fidelity Triangle

Here's another patch of greenery to honor New Yorkers who died in WWI combat. The site is just 1/200 of an acre and holds three London planetrees, and as well as seven World's Fair benches (aka the traditional park bench, which was introduced at the 1939 World's Fair).

Jacob Riis Triangle

Given how famous and influential Jacob Riis was, he could have a triangle named for him anywhere in the city, but the Parks Department chose this site in the 1990s because Riis lived in the neighborhood, Richmond Hill. Parks acquired the site in 1945, and it was originally known as Babbage Triangle, until a council member lobbied for the change. It measures 1/200 of an acre.

Alben Triangle

A flagpole and modest memorial sit in the center of Alben Triangle, named for Bud H. Alben, who was killed during WWI. The memorial was created by the VFW post named for Alben, and it became city property in 1935. It measures 1/200 of an acre.

Glendale Veterans Memorial Triangle

The residents of Glendale paid for this memorial to honor their 21 neighbors who died fighting in WWI. It features a bronze bas relief of a female holding a torch set in granite, along with the inscribed names of the veterans. The triangle, sandwiched between Myrtle and Cooper avenues, clocks in at 1/200 of an acre.

Catholic War Veterans Triangle

Why yes, this is another war memorial triangle. The Parks Department has little information about this .006-acre Queens property on its website, but the brick-paved open space features a stone cross sculpture surrounded by trees and a few benches.

Dahill Triangle

The Parks Department also has no historic information about Dahill Triangle, which sits on Dahill Road in south Brooklyn. The .006-acre space holds a path of hedge-lined grass and one tree.

Garlinge Triangle

Measuring a roomy 1/125 of an acre, Garlinge Triangle commemorates the Maspeth, Queens residents who died in combat during WWI. It features a monument at center, as well as a flagpole and some benches.

Wellbrock Triangle

Another community-funded memorial sits in the 1/125-acre Wellbrock Triangle in Ozone Park. This obelisk also honors those who died in World War I.

American Triangle

Coming in at .009 acres, American Triangle, named such for unknown reasons, holds several benches and trees. The surrounding streets are lined in shops, and the park seems to get a steady stream of foot traffic.

Barnhill Square

The only Bronx site on this list, Barnhill Square sits across the street from Kingsbridge Armory. The Parks Department has no information online about its origins, but the park's benches may soon see a lot more action if the Armory's redevelopment manages to push through.

Albert E. Short Triangle Park

Albert E. Short lived his entire life in Long Island City, and served as the Queens Assistant District Attorney from 1938 to 1951. The triangle named for him measures 1/100 of an acre and sits beside the Court Square subway station, the construction of which seems to have eliminated a Norway maple. The Parks website says that in 1997 "a baby Weeping cherry tree was planted in the center of the triangle to accompany the long-standing Norway maple tree that stands at the triangle’s western corner," but Google Street View makes it clear that all of the triangle's trees are young.

McKenna Triangle

Named for Long Island City native Major James A. McKenna, who died in WWI, this 1/100-acre park became city property in 1911. It was named for McKenna in 1919, and today features trees, benches, and bike parking.

Clemens Triangle

In Ridgewood, Clemens Triangle honors Carl E. Clemens, the former owner of The Ridgewood Times. The 1/100-acre park is simple, holding just a few benches shaded by large trees, but it's in a busy commercial district, so its seats are well-used.