Information
Landmark: St. Albans Park (Archie Spigner Park)City: Queens
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
St. Albans Park (Archie Spigner Park), Queens, USA New York, North America
Overview
In 2022, St. Albans Park was renamed Archie Spigner Park, a historic green space at the heart of St. Albans, a quiet residential neighborhood in southeastern Queens where tall oaks throw shade across winding paths.Covering 10.79 acres, it’s a place where the community gathers-kids chasing soccer balls on the grass while concerts fill the evening air-offering both recreation and cultural richness.Back when it was called St. Albans Park, neighbors came here to relax, swap stories, and watch kids chase each other across the lawn.The park and nearby streets are steeped in African-American history, especially in the mid-20th century, when St. Albans bustled with Black professionals, jazz artists, and soul musicians.In 2022, the park took on a new name, honoring Archie Spigner-the first African American to win political office in Queens-where the smell of fresh-cut grass still drifts through the air.From 1974 to 2001, he sat on the New York City Council, championing civil rights and pushing for community growth, often speaking out in packed neighborhood halls.Renaming the place shows how proud the community is of its leaders and the history they’ve built, like the old courthouse still standing at the town’s center.The park offers tennis, handball, and basketball courts, plus a rare cricket pitch-something you won’t find in many NYC parks-and outdoor fitness gear, drawing neighbors of all ages for casual games and team matches.Playgrounds feature modern equipment designed for kids of all ages, from low slides for toddlers to climbing nets that challenge older children.Families can cool off under spray showers and relax in nearby shaded seats, the air smelling faintly of wet pavement.Tree-lined paths wind through the park, perfect for a brisk jog, a slow stroll, or sitting on a shaded bench to watch leaves drift down.You can settle onto a bench in the shade or gather at a picnic table, perfect for resting and catching up with friends.Green Space features wide, sunlit lawns perfect for a quick game of frisbee, a lively community fair, or a relaxed family picnic.Local volunteers tend the gardens, filling them with seasonal color and offering visitors the chance to learn about the environment.The park serves as the heart of the community, hosting cultural festivals, lively summer concerts, morning yoga on the grass, and cheerful holiday gatherings.NYC Parks and local groups keep the city lively with regular events that boost health, spark creativity, and get people moving in the fresh air.They’ve welcomed Juneteenth celebrations, lively Caribbean heritage gatherings scented with jerk spices, and heartfelt memorials led by neighbors.In 2017, a $1 million overhaul brought shiny new playground equipment, freshly resurfaced courts, better drainage, and inviting touches like lush landscaping and extra benches.The changes were part of a bigger push to breathe new life into the park, making sure it could serve a growing mix of people-families at the picnic tables, kids chasing each other across the grass.The park now meets full ADA standards, with smooth paths you can roll across without a bump.Getting here’s easy-the nearest train is the Long Island Rail Road’s St. Albans station, only a few minutes’ walk past the corner store.You can catch the Q4, Q5, Q84, or Q114 just a short walk from here.You can enter from Merrick Boulevard, Sayres Avenue, or Marne Place, where the curb slopes down to meet the sidewalk.Archie Spigner’s legacy lives on as that of a beloved local figure, known for fighting for civil rights, affordable housing, healthcare for all, and safer streets where neighbors could walk at dusk without fear.His work helped transform Southeast Queens into the lively, close-knit neighborhood it is today, where corner bakeries spill the scent of fresh bread onto the sidewalk.Calling the park by his name makes sure people, years from now, still remember the mark he left-like the old oak he planted that still shades the path.St. Albans Park-Archie Spigner Park-is more than a place to play; it’s where Southeast Queens gathers, remembers its stories, and takes pride in roots that run deep.
