About Historic Weeping Beech Park Maintenance Project

Join us for Weeping Beech Park Maintenance Project where we will be clearing debris and weeds that have completely taken over the Northern section of the park.
The weekly tasks will include cutting down plants, pulling weeds, bagging the debris and planting new flower seeds.
*No previous gardening experience needed.

SITE LOCATION INFO:
The Weeping Beech tree that once rooted itself in this park lived for 151 years, from 1847 to 1998 -- one of the City’s few trees to be landmarked. The tree originated at a nobleman’s estate in Beersal, Belgium from whence it was transported to New York City by the efforts of one enterprising gardener. Samuel Bowne Parsons (1819-1907), a prominent horticulturalist and father of Parks Superintendent Samuel Parsons Jr. (1844-1923), obtained the seedling and planted it on the grounds of his renowned nursery. In its maturity, its branches touched the ground and re-rooted, creating a ring of offspring surrounding its immense canopy.

To the south of where the beech once stood is Queens’ second oldest house, the Kingsland Homestead. Built by Flushing native Charles Doughty around 1785, the house acquired its name from his son-in-law, British sea captain Joseph King, who bought the home in 1801. The last of Doughty’s descendants to reside in the house were the Murrays who lived there until 1937. (Both Manhattan’s Murray Hill and Queens’ Murray Hill are named for this family.) When a subway extension threatened to destroy the house in 1923, it was moved from its foundations on 155th Street and Northern Boulevard. Endangered again by new construction in 1968, the house was transferred to its present site by the Kingsland Preservation Committee. The Queens Historical Society was formed in that year, and has had its headquarters in the house ever since.

Application Process

Please send an email to [email protected] telling us a little bit about yourself and how frequently you can join the volunteering team with the email subject line: "Weeping Beech Park Garden Volunteer Application".

Family-Friendly

Parents and children are invited and encouraged to get involved.