Broad Channel, Queens

Prior to European settlement, the Jameco and Canarsie bands of Lenape Native Americans frequented this area. During the 17th century, Dutch settlers established a community on the island and began harvesting oysters, clams, shrimp, and fish.^[3] The name Hassock refers to firmer clumps of grass or vegetation in marshy ground. The name "Broad Channel" itself originally referred to a channel in Jamaica Bay, within which the island is located.^[4]:56

Until the American Civil War, most of Jamaica Bay's islands east of Bergen Island and Barren Island were not inhabited, including Broad Channel. The boundary line between the towns of Flatlands, Brooklyn, and Jamaica, Queens, ran through Jamaica Bay, cutting through Broad Channel, though the island was mostly part of Jamaica. After 1865, fisheries were developed in the bay, and by the late 1870s, the town of Jamaica indicated that structures had been built in the bay without the town's permission.^[4]:56

The Long Island Rail Road built its Rockaway Beach Branch across the bay in 1880, cutting through Broad Channel.^[5][6][7][8] The presence of the railroad led to the development of fishing villages with shacks, summer homes, boathouses, and stores. As part of the project, some other islands in Jamaica Bay were removed or connected to others.^[4]:56

Broad Channel remained a parcel within the town of Jamaica until the City of Greater New York was created in 1898.^[4]:60 The northern (and larger) portion of the island is part of Gateway National Recreation Area and is managed as part of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the only wildlife refuge managed the National Park Service.^[9] The waters and marsh islands of the refuge entirely surround the community.

In 1915, the city leased Broad Channel Island, Goose Creek Island, and Raunt Island to Pierre Noel, who subleased it to the Broad Channel Corporation.^[4]:57 The 30-year lease specified payments of $16.57 per acre for the first three years and a maximum of $33.73 per acre for the last five years of the thirty-year term.^[10] The Broad Channel Corporation in turn made 10-year subleases to private individuals for the development of summer bungalows and houses.^[11]

Hubo críticas públicas al contrato de arrendamiento después de que el público se enterara del acuerdo, las cuales Pierre Noel, presidente de Broad Channel Corporation, rebatió señalando mejoras por valor de 180 000 dólares que habían realizado, incluyendo la excavación de un pozo para abastecer de agua potable, la construcción de una central eléctrica, la adición de relleno para reducir la necesidad de casas sobre pilotes y el trazado de calles en la isla. ^{[ 12 ]} Sin embargo, los residentes cuestionaron la calidad de estas mejoras, afirmando que el agua del grifo era marrón y no potable, que sus casas no tenían electricidad y que no había alcantarillado en la isla. ^{[ 13 ]}

La Broad Channel Corporation respondió diciendo que el agua era de la misma calidad que la disponible en Rockaways y que planeaba instalar un dispositivo de filtración para eliminar el hierro del agua del grifo. Afirmó que las calles contaban con alumbrado eléctrico y que la instalación de alcantarillado no era posible en la isla. ^{[ 14 ]}

Durante años, la única forma de llegar a la isla era en ferry o ferrocarril, ^{[ 11 ] [ 15 ]} pero en 1925, se inauguró el puente North Channel, que conectaba la isla con Howard Beach. ^{[ 16 ]} El puente Cross Bay Parkway también se inauguró en 1925 (reemplazado en 1939 y de nuevo en 1970), conectando con Rockaways. ^{[ 17 ]} El viaducto ferroviario que cruza la bahía de Jamaica sufrió alrededor de 30 incendios entre 1942 y 1950. ^{[ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ]} Uno de esos incendios, entre las estaciones de The Raunt y Broad Channel el 7 de mayo de 1950, interrumpió el servicio en la sección central de la línea ferroviaria. ^{[ 21 ]} El LIRR, que entonces estaba en bancarrota, no podía costear la reparación del viaducto, y la ciudad de Nueva York compró la línea en 1952, ^{[ 21 ] [ 22 ]} y la reabrió como la línea IND Rockaway del metro de la ciudad de Nueva York en 1956. ^{[ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ]}

Parks Commissioner Robert Moses announced his intention to build a park on the island in 1938; he planned recreation on the shore with a wildlife sanctuary on the north end of the island.^[27] The next year, the Broad Channel Corporation declared bankruptcy, and the city acquired the island's property titles.^[4]:58[28] In May 1944, Broad Channel's 4,000 residents, collectively living in 1,260 homes, secured an injunction that would prevent the city from evicting them by April 30, 1948.^[29]

Later in 1944, the New York City Board of Estimate indicated that it would give residents the right to purchase the land under their houses.^[30] However, this right was denied for many years. The city made many attempts to alter the island's purpose, but the local community resisted them all. Proposed changes included the construction of a commercial port and the extension of John F. Kennedy International Airport.^[27]

Rumors of high hepatitis rates spread in 1967 because of the island's bad sewage system. At the time, several homes still dumped sewage into the bay, causing activities like clamming, wading, and swimming to be banned.^[31] The health hazards prompted the city to again attempt eviction proceedings against Broad Channel's residents,^[32] which prompted them to protest,^[33] and the Board of Estimate ordered the residents' leases to be renewed the following year, despite the real estate commissioner's protests.^[34] The government of New York City finally granted Broad Channel residents the right to purchase their property in 1982.^[27] The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge replaced the dilapidated North Channel Bridge in 1993.^[35]

In 1998, Broad Channel's Labor Day parade received negative media attention after video of a float that parodied the racially motivated dragging death of an African American man was made public. Three white participants on the float, all city emergency workers, were later fired from their jobs as a result of the parade incident.^[36] They sued the city for wrongful termination, and their claims were upheld in federal district court in 2003,^[37] but the firings were upheld upon appeal in 2006.^[38]

In August 2011, Broad Channel faced its first mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Irene.^[39][40] In the aftermath, two homes on Church Road between East 12th and 14th Road collapsed into Jamaica Bay due to the high storm tide.^[41] In October 2012, Broad Channel faced another mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Sandy.^[42][43] It sustained heavy damage with widespread flooding affecting most homes in the area,^[44] and in subsequent days, widespread prolonged power cuts and shortages of food and water were reported.^[45]

Press reports indicated that at least parts of the neighborhood were flooded from time to time by high tides.^[46] The city proposed steps such as raising the streets and sidewalks by three feet. The street raising and new sea walls, installation of which were ongoing as of 2017, serve to stop street flooding.^[47] Broad Channel remains as one of the New York City neighborhoods most vulnerable to flooding, and had the highest proportion of repeated flood-related insurance claims as of 2018.^[48]

The New York City Subway's IND Rockaway Line (Aand​Strains) has a subway station in Broad Channel.^[52] The Q52 and Q53Select Bus Service routes and the QM15, QM16 and QM17 express routes along Cross Bay Boulevard also serve Broad Channel.^[53]

From the 1950s to the 1970s, some mapmakers have shown the streets of Broad Channel as being part of the street naming system found in the rest of Queens besides the Rockaways, with the numbers of "Streets" increasing from west to east, the numbers of "Avenues" increasing from north to south, etc.^[54] However, Broad Channel streets have always had their own numbering format, including "East" and "West" (in relation to Cross Bay Boulevard), as well as named "Roads" numbered north to south; this street naming system is independent of those used elsewhere in the borough. The directional prefixes ensured no duplication with any other "Road" in Queens. There are no numerical north-south or even any named "Streets" in Broad Channel.

Broad Channel is connected to the rest of Queens via four bridges: the tolled, vehicular Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge to the south; the free, vehicular Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge to the north; and the two IND Rockaway Line swing bridges. Cross Bay Boulevard, the island's only through road, traverses the two vehicular bridges, both of which also carry bicycle and pedestrian traffic.^[55] Lying between Howard Beach and the Rockaway Peninsula, it is connected to those communities by these bridges, at either end of the island.

Following the construction of the Cross Bay Parkway bridge in 1939, a drawbridge connecting Broad Channel with the Rockaway Peninsula (which replaced the original, narrow, 1925 drawbridge), the island became easily accessible by car. However, the drawbridge opened up many times per day, and whenever it opened, traffic would back up to Howard Beach, as well as on the Rockaway Peninsula.

In the mid-to-late 1960s, a new bridge was constructed. It opened on May 28, 1970. It was renamed the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1977. It is maintained by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and a $3.75 toll ($2 with E-ZPass) must be paid to use the bridge.

The Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge connects Broad Channel to Howard Beach and the mainland. Opening in 1993, it was formerly known as the North Channel Bridge. It replaced an older North Channel Bridge built in 1925, which was deteriorated to the point where it was beyond repair. It is maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation, and is free.

Broad Channel is served by the New York City Department of Education. Elementary school students attend PS 47, which serves pre-K through eighth grades; the school facilities were completely remodeled during the 1990s. In the 2023-2024 school year, after 2 years of construction, PS 47 reopened in a new building.^[56]

Broad Channel was also home to St. Virgilius School, a Roman Catholic School that was part of the Diocese of Brooklyn. However, after a lengthy battle between parents and the Diocese, St. Virgilius School closed in 2006.^[57] Two years later, upon the retirement of its administrator, Rev. John P. Maloney, St. Virgilius Parish of Broad Channel merged with St. Camillus Parish of Rockaway Park.^[58]

The Queens Public Library's Broad Channel branch is located at 16-26 Cross Bay Boulevard.^[59]

El Broad Channel Athletic Club, una organización sin fines de lucro, se fundó en 1961. Los equipos de béisbol están registrados en la Little League, organizan una liga interna y participan en la Catholic Youth Organization. La liga de fútbol americano juega en la Nassau and Suffolk Football League. La liga de fútbol soccer está completamente gestionada por la organización y participa en la Catholic Youth Organization. El equipo de natación participa en la Police Athletic League of New York City y en la Catholic Youth Organization. La liga de baloncesto también participa en la Catholic Youth Organization. ^{[ 60 ]}

La Sociedad Histórica de Broad Channel fue fundada en 1994 por Danny Mundy, entonces presidente de la Asociación Cívica, tras leer la columna "Un vistazo al pasado" del boletín informativo local Channel News . Ada L. Smith , senadora estatal de Nueva York que representaba al distrito, distribuyó fondos que la sociedad utilizó para comprar cuadernos donde registrar la historia de la comunidad. Desde junio de 1995, la sociedad celebra anualmente el Día Histórico para que los visitantes puedan consultar la colección en la Biblioteca de Broad Channel. ^{[ 61 ]}

La Biblioteca de Broad Channel ha albergado la colección histórica. Esta colección fue microfilmada en 1997 y el microfilm está disponible para su consulta en la sucursal central de Jamaica, Queens . También en 1997 se publicó el primer Calendario Histórico anual, que incluye fotografías antiguas de Broad Channel e información sobre las mareas.

El departamento se fundó en 1905 como una brigada de cubos para ayudar a minimizar las pérdidas materiales causadas por incendios. En 1907, esta brigada se organizó formalmente como la Asociación de Bomberos Voluntarios de Broad Channel bajo el mando de su primer jefe, Edward H. Schleuter. La actual estación de bomberos, ubicada en 15 Noel Road, se inauguró en el verano de 1908. En 1913, el jefe Chris Hoobs falleció de un ataque al corazón mientras respondía a un incendio. La asociación recibió su licencia de bomberos del estado de Nueva York en 1917 y, a partir de entonces, se la conoció como los Voluntarios de Broad Channel.

En 1956, el entonces subjefe Robert H. Russell Sr. incorporó servicios de ambulancia voluntarios para brindar primeros auxilios y atención ambulatoria a los residentes de Broad Channel. Posteriormente, fue elegido jefe del departamento veintiuna veces, de 1957 a 1973, de 1975 a 1977 y nuevamente en 1984. A principios de la década de 1960, el departamento crecía rápidamente, tanto en prestigio dentro de la comunidad como en su conjunto.

On summer weekends during the 1950s and 1960s, the FDNY would send a spare engine and a crew detailed from other firehouses, known as Engine Company No. 341, to the Broad Channel Volunteers' quarters to assist in answering alarms on the island. The bridges at the northern and southern ends of the island were draw bridges and were frequently opened for large passing ships. The southern bridge was particularly active due to the numerous tankers carrying fuel to nearby Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport).

On average it took from 30 to 45 minutes from the lowering of the traffic barriers, the opening and closing of the lift bridge, and the raising of the traffic barriers before traffic could again move. Occasionally, the bridge would get stuck in the open position effectively closing Cross Bay Boulevard for extended periods. This would impede responses by FDNY apparatus, EMS & NYPD companies to the island for any type of emergency.

Also, Cross Bay Boulevard, then 4 lanes in each direction, would be jammed by beach goers and those looking to vacation at Rockaway's bungalows and hotels and its famous Rockaway Playland. Often the FDNY firefighters would leave their apparatus parked on the Boulevard and join the volunteers on their apparatus because they were smaller than the FDNY apparatus and could maneuver down the very narrow streets.

Over the years, the Broad Channel Volunteers have been in service, they have created a close working relationship with the local FDNY companies as well as the volunteer companies from Nassau & Suffolk Counties. The Broad Channel Volunteers are also dues paying members of many organizations such as the Southern New York Volunteer Firemans Association, the Firemans Association of the State of New York, and along with the 8 other volunteer fire departments in the 5 boroughs of New York City, they are members of Volunteer Firemans Association of the City of New York.

In the late 1970s, The Broad Channel Junior Fire Department was organized to help train young teens in the aspects of the fire and EMS service as well as dispatching and clerical duties while still cleaning the firehouse and its apparatus. When its members turned 18, they were allowed to begin riding the apparatus as firefighters or start training as EMTs. The benefit was these teens were already knowledgeable in the operations of the department and it became a breeding ground for the departments future firefighters, officers and chiefs. They would later become a Boy Scout Explorer Post, #3069.

En 1994, bajo la dirección del jefe Dan McIntyre, el cuerpo de ambulancias voluntarias obtuvo la certificación del estado de Nueva York. Desde entonces, el departamento tomó la iniciativa de exigir que todos sus bomberos contaran con la certificación del estado de Nueva York en todos los aspectos del servicio de bomberos y de emergencias médicas. Ese mismo año, el jefe Dan McIntyre también fundó la Compañía Marítima del departamento, que sigue en servicio hasta la actualidad. El departamento opera una pequeña lancha Zodiac , similar a las de la Guardia Costera, como equipo de rescate en aguas bravas, con técnicos de emergencias médicas certificados a bordo y, en algunos casos, también buzos certificados.

En 2012, como consecuencia del huracán Sandy, el departamento de bomberos perdió muchos recursos, incluyendo sus dos camiones de bomberos y sus dos ambulancias . Por lo tanto, se prestó un camión de bomberos de reemplazo de Chanhassen, Minnesota , al Departamento de Bomberos Voluntarios de Broad Channel. ^{[ 62 ]} Además, pueblos vecinos de Minnesota enviaron recursos, incluyendo botas y cascos adicionales de Victoria y Carver ; cuatro monitores de aire, un aparato de rescate hidráulico y dos generadores eléctricos de Chaska ; y un camión con recursos por un valor aproximado de $20,000 de la comunidad Sioux de allí. ^{[ 62 ]}

Broad Channel Volunteers, Inc. es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) que depende exclusivamente de la recaudación de fondos puerta a puerta, subvenciones de políticos y del estado, y desde 1905 ha sido operada por voluntarios al 100%.

Inaugurado el 21 de agosto de 2019, el Parque Sunset Cove se ubica en 5,09 hectáreas (12,57 acres) de terreno que anteriormente ocupaba un puerto deportivo. Durante el proceso, se retiraron aproximadamente 760 m³ (1000 yardas cúbicas ) ^de escombros y 23 000 m³ (30 000 yardas cúbicas ) ^de suelo contaminado, y se restauraron 1,8 hectáreas (4,5 acres) de marisma salina y 2,8 hectáreas (7 acres) de área elevada. Además, se construyó un paseo y un terraplén costero, y se importaron 15 000 toneladas (16 000 toneladas cortas o 14 000 toneladas largas) de arena. Una futura fase de construcción, que comenzará en 2021, incluirá un jardín de ostras, un muelle y una pasarela para acceder a la marisma salina. ^{[ 63 ]}      

El Broad Channel American Park abrió sus puertas en mayo de 1995. Ubicado en el extremo sur del Broad Channel, se encuentra a orillas de la bahía de Jamaica . El parque cuenta con dos campos de béisbol de césped , un campo de béisbol de asfalto, bancos, fuentes de agua, un área de estacionamiento, cuatro aros de baloncesto y una pequeña zona de juegos infantiles. El área del mástil de la bandera está rodeada por una zona de descanso con temática náutica. El parque recibió su nombre actual en marzo de 1998. ^{[ 64 ]}

Broad Channel Park, también conocido como 17th Road Playground, está ubicado en Cross Bay Boulevard y se extiende entre las calles 16 y 18. Este parque incluye una pista de hockey, canchas de baloncesto, canchas de balonmano, áreas de juegos infantiles y canchas de tenis. ^{[ 3 ]}

El parque infantil Gene Gray, ubicado en la intersección de Cross Bay Boulevard y East 9th Road, lleva el nombre de Eugene Gray (1927-1973), un activista comunitario que apoyó la construcción del primer parque de aventuras de la isla antes de su fallecimiento. En 1987, la Asociación Cívica de Broad Channel y la Junta Comunitaria 14 de Queens solicitaron con éxito el cambio de nombre del parque en honor a Gray. El parque, que costó 457.688 dólares, se inauguró el 12 de noviembre de 1987, con diseños de Richard Dattner . Las estructuras de juego de madera del parque estaban ambientadas en una fortaleza náutica, con un puente diseñado para parecerse a un velero. También hay un sauce de 75 años , nueve arces rojos y noventa arbustos de fuego que rodean el parque. ^{[ 65 ]}