A Peaceful Walk Through South Ozone Park, Queens Hidden NYC

South Ozone Park began as mostly farmland and wetlands in the 1800s. The area was part of the town of Jamaica, long before Queens became part of New York City in 1898.

“Long before South Ozone Park existed, this land was home to the Lenape people, who lived along Jamaica Bay for thousands of years.”

In the 1600s, Dutch and later English settlers arrived

In the early 1900s, real estate developers started advertising the neighborhood as a quiet residential escape from crowded Manhattan and Brooklyn. The name “Ozone Park” was used to suggest fresh air and open space, which appealed to working-class families.
The neighborhood grew rapidly once streetcar lines and later subway access (A train) made commuting possible. Rows of one- and two-family homes were built, many of which still define South Ozone Park today.
From the 1970s onward, South Ozone Park became home to a diverse immigrant population, including strong Caribbean and South Asian communities. This diversity shaped the area’s food, businesses, and everyday culture.

Today, South Ozone Park is known for
• Quiet residential streets
• Longtime homeowners
• Close proximity to JFK
• A strong sense of neighborhood identity
“South Ozone Park isn’t defined by one culture. It’s Caribbean, South Asian, Latino, African American, and longtime New York families all living side by side.”