Founded as its own town in 1660, the neighborhood of Bushwick is regarded as one of the most historical areas in all of New York City. Central to its history are its businesses, streets and parks, all with their own mini-histories that help tell Bushwick’s story. Here’s an incomprehensive list of notable Bushwick landmarks and some background on how they got their names.

Maria Hernandez Park

As we’ve previously reported in Bushwick Daily, the park formerly known as Bushwick Park was renamed following the tragic 1989 shooting death of Maria Hernandez, an anti-drug activist and community leader. She and her husband Carlos directly and indirectly confronted neighborhood dealers and gang members, passing along information to police about the local drug trade. Land for the park was first purchased by the city of Brooklyn in the early 1890s and was completed in its first iteration in 1896, with refurbishments and enhanced infrastructure added over the years. The park and its surrounding areas have recently seen something of a boom, having undergone further enhancements and having played host to artistic and cultural events.