Woodhaven in Queens in Queens County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
PFC Laurence Strack Memorial Pond
Kettle Ponds
Twenty thousand years ago, a massive ice sheet called the Wisconsin Glacier reached its southern limit in Long Island. When the ice sheet receded, large glacial fragments remained. These fragments melted and left depressions called kettles. These fragments melted and left depressions called kettles. These fragments also left layers of silt and clay on the kettle bottom, that created an impermeable layer. The kettles then collected water and became ponds.
Kettle ponds were once abundant throughout Forest Park. Today, most of them have filled in naturally.
Strack Pond was drained and made into ballfields in 1966 However, frequent flooding made the folds unusable. So, in 1995, former Parks a Commissioner Henry J. Stern after observing mallards in left bold. proclaimed the site for the ducks and authorized the restoration. In 2000, the pond was restored The fill was removed, a water-tight clay lining was placed on the bottom and a series of streams were built to filter water run off. Native wetland and meadow plants were placed along the perimeter.
This pond restoration was designed to support a variety of plants and animals. Please do not enter restored areas or release animals into the pond.
Erected by City of New York Parks & Recreation
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 40° 41.962′ N, 73° 51.421′ W. Marker is in Queens, New York, in Queens County. It is in Woodhaven. It is on Forest Park Drive west of Forest Park Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Forest Park Dr, Woodhaven NY 11421, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, the Western Hemisphere, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Forest Park Carousel (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named PFC Laurence Strack Memorial Pond (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Detective Brian "Smiles" Simonsen Memorial Field (approx. Ό mile away); First House Number in Queens (approx. Ό mile away); Betty Smith 1943 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Woodhaven Library (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1940 Woodhaven P O (approx. half a mile away); Woodhaven Patriotic League World War II Honor Roll (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Queens.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 8, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
