About

Baisley Park

History

The Baisley Park area was originally in the territory through which the Rockaway Indians (who spoke the Algonquin language) passed on their way to Jamaica.

Sutphin Blvd and Rockaway Blvd at present are built on much of the old Indian trail. The community was named for early Queens resident David Baisley, who sold his pond (Baisley Pond) to a Brooklyn water supply company in 1857. In 1858, a large quantity of teeth belonging to the American Mastodon were found near the pond. There was speculation that a herd of Mastodons came down to Baisley Pond to drink and were trapped by a huge wall of ice.

At the beginning of the century, Baisley Park was still farmland. The modern suburban development of Baisley Park began about 1923. The area became settled with one-family frame homes; small business and shopping centers grew up on Sutphin Blvd in the heart of the development. Churches and schools were also established.

Baisley Pond was drained to provide deeper water for residents to go boating and ice skating, and a picturesque Baisley Park was built around the pond. In the past 50 years area residents and others have put great efforts in beautifying the area, improving housing, and fighting drugs.

Community library service began on July 17th 1930, when the Queens Library Book Bus, “The Pioneer”, made its first regular stop in the neighborhood. The public response to this service was enthusiastic: in the first 6 months, 6000 books were circulated. In 1933, the Cherokee Democratic Club offered its club room for after-school children to wait for the book bus. Finally, in 1935, the Baisley Park station (as a sub-branch) was opened next to the park. It was designated as a branch in 1956.

Special Services

Queens Library HealthLink

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one of two American men and one of three American women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime. Queens Library HealthLink seeks to increase access to cancer screening and cancer treatment among medically underserved communities in Queens. Queens Library HealthLink is a partnership between Queens Library, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Queens Cancer Center of Queens Hospital and the American Cancer Society.

Cancer Action Council

The Baisley Park Cancer Action Council is a group of community leaders who discuss community health issues and make plans for action in Baisley Park. Contact (718) 990-5197 or (718) 529-1590