McKenna Triangle

What was here before?
The Trustees of Union College granted this land to Long Island City on November 4, 1884. Founded in 1791 by George Clinton (1739-1812) and John Jay (1745-1829), Union College was the oldest school in Jamaica at the time it closed in 1883.

How did this site become a green space?
The park opened on November 14, 1884 and on New Year's Day of 1898, the title of this land was vested in the City of New York when Long Island City and the rest of Queens became part of the newly consolidated city. On July 11, 1911, the Queens division of the Department of Parks separated from the joint Brooklyn-Queens Department of Parks. Three days later, the new Queens Commissioner of Parks took office and identified "four unnamed parks," this property among them. The Commissioner reasoned that the triangle's key location rendered it a stopping ground for large numbers of people, therefore, it "required an iron picket fence, deep fertilization and planting" to make it more aesthetically pleasing. He named this land Gleason Angle after Patrick J. Gleason (1844-1901), the last mayor of Long Island City.

On December 17, 1919, the Board of Alderman renamed the land James A. McKenna Triangle to "pay tribute to one who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War.” A bronze plaque to McKenna and a flagstaff were donated by shipping magnate William H. Todd of Todd Shipyard’s Corporation, who also funded the Prospect Park War Memorial.

Who is this green space named for?
Major James A. McKenna (1885-1918) was a native of Long Island City who was killed in the First World War. McKenna attended schools in Long Island City and Brooklyn before enrolling at Harvard as an undergraduate. Ultimately, he completed his education at Fordham Law School.

McKenna joined the 7th Regiment in 1916 and fought on the Mexican until 1917, he was later transferred to the 69th Regiment and made Lieutenant that same year. McKenna would go on to command the 1st Troop ship of his infantry while crossing into France, and upon his arrival was promoted to Major. On July 15, 1918, McKenna was in a gas raid at Champagne, but recovered quickly to lead the only successful battalion to cross the Ourcq River. Upon his return the following day, McKenna was killed by a stray piece of shrapnel. His brother, who also served in the 165th Infantry, buried him immediately. In 1921, his remains were transferred to the Gate of Heaven cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, New York.