Elected officials, residents and members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a ceremony to commemorate the designation of the Forest Park Carousel on Monday.
To honor the new landmark, the LPC unveiled a plaque, which states the history of the century-old carousel and its designer, Daniel Muller.
“Preserving our history strengthens our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley. “I was proud to work with the LPC, the Parks Department, and community advocates to ensure this historic carousel continues to be a treasure for future generations.”
The carousel was shuttered from 2008 to 2012, but last year, New York Carousel Entertainment LLC, which also owns the carousel in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, decided to buy and revitalize it.
The LPC made the classic Woodhaven ride a city treasure and ensured its preservation with a unanimous 8-0 vote on June 25.
The carousel, which was brought to Forest Park in 1973, is comprised of 49 horses, a lion, a tiger, a deer, and two chariots arranged in three concentric circles, all carved with great attention to detail. There are also paintings depicting settings in Woodhaven and other parts of Queens.
“It’s taken an enormous amount of well-deserved dedication and work over the past 40 years to save this exquisitely carved carousel,” said LPC Chair Robert Tierney. “It’s an incredible work of American folk art that was manufactured by a firm that was celebrated for its highly realistic work and attention to detail, and I’m delighted it will be protected for generations to come in one of the most picturesque settings in New York City.”
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