This chapter traces the dramatic rise of Robert Moses as New York City’s Park Commissioner, beginning in 1934. It paints a vivid picture of his sweeping reforms, tireless ambition, and the lasting changes he brought to the city’s parks and infrastructure. Set against the bleak backdrop of the Great Depression, the narrative shows how Moses’s vision and aggressive tactics reshaped not only the city’s physical spaces but also the way public parks were managed.
From the moment he took office, Moses made it clear he was in charge. He quickly fired the existing borough commissioners and senior staff, replacing them with trusted allies from his Long Island team. This bold move set the tone for his administration: efficiency and loyalty were non-negotiable. Civil service employees who didn’t fit his mold were either shuffled off to less desirable jobs or pushed out entirely. Moses also brought in tough construction foremen to keep the workforce—many of whom were relief workers unfamiliar with hard labor—in line. He demanded results, believing that public money should be spent with strict oversight and clear outcomes. Moses even went head-to-head with the Civil Works Administration, fighting for the right to hire skilled architects and engineers at competitive wages. During a time when jobs were scarce, this drew a flood of talented professionals eager for work.
Despite the punishing winter of 1934, with its record cold and heavy snow, Moses pressed on with an ambitious slate of park renovations. Thousands of workers labored around the clock, often moving faster than the architects could draw up plans. By spring, nearly all of the 1,800 projects were finished. The city’s parks were transformed with new playgrounds, fresh paint, restored monuments, and lush landscaping. For New Yorkers struggling through hard times, these revitalized parks became powerful symbols of hope and renewal.
Moses’s influence reached far beyond Central Park. He oversaw its restoration, refurbishing buildings, replanting gardens, eliminating pests, and adding attractions like the zoo and the Great Lawn. But he also recognized that many neighborhoods desperately needed recreational spaces. He scoured the city for unused public land—vacant lots, forgotten corners, and neglected parcels—and turned them into playgrounds and green spaces. Through savvy legislative maneuvering and by uncovering overlooked funds, Moses managed to create new parks even as the city’s finances were in dire straits.
One of his most creative initiatives was the development of “War Memorial Playgrounds.” By redirecting money originally set aside for a war memorial, Moses established playgrounds across the city, each marked with a commemorative plaque. He acquired land from churches, corporations, estates, and philanthropists, often relying on clever negotiation or legal tactics. The rapid construction of fifty-two playgrounds, along with eight memorial sites, won him praise from both the press and the public, who were amazed by his energy and vision.
A particularly touching moment in the chapter is the renovation and reopening of the Central Park Zoo in December 1934. Moses took on this project as a personal favor to Al Smith, the former governor and his political mentor, who had been sidelined by President Roosevelt. Knowing how much Smith loved animals and how disappointed he was with the zoo’s previous state, Moses made its transformation a top priority. He even diverted resources from other projects and worked through illness to get it done. The reopening was a festive event, designed as a magical zoo for children, complete with decorations, live animals, music, and a parade. Smith was honored with a medal and named “Honorary Night Superintendent,” turning the occasion into both a tribute to his legacy and a showcase of Moses’s commitment to public works.
Smith embraced his new role with gusto, visiting the zoo at night, interacting with the animals, and entertaining guests with his playful antics. Under Moses’s direction, the zoo was completely transformed. The Arsenal was restored, new red brick animal houses were built, and whimsical architectural details and murals were added. Even with tight budgets imposed by the CWA, Moses and architect Aymar Embury II managed to create a charming and imaginative space that delighted visitors and brought people together.
Moses believed parks should be places of enjoyment, not just awe. This philosophy was evident in the lively atmosphere of the zoo, with Sicilian-themed refreshment carts and a playful sea-lion pool. While some critics worried about animal care, the zoo was widely celebrated and drew huge crowds. The chapter then shifts to Moses’s next big project: the Triborough Bridge.
Moses saw the Triborough Bridge as both a solution to the city’s traffic woes and a way to connect the Bronx and Queens directly, making it easier for people to reach Long Island’s parks. He faced major hurdles, including poor planning and political corruption within the Tammany Hall-controlled Triborough Bridge Authority. Moses quickly removed those responsible for wasteful spending, such as the unnecessary use of expensive granite and the misplacement of the Manhattan terminus, and redirected funds to essential infrastructure and park development.
He assembled a top-notch team, including engineer Othmar Ammann and administrator Paul J. Loeser, streamlined the bridge’s design, and slashed costs by 40 percent. Moses also convinced federal officials to broaden the definition of “approaches,” which allowed him to use surplus funds for connecting roads and parkland. He overcame logistical challenges, such as securing land for the Queens approach and minimizing costly condemnations, and negotiated with Con Ed to build underground tunnels, which expanded parkland and made room for a massive stadium on Randall’s Island.
The chapter also discusses the controversy over the demolition of Calvert Vaux’s Ladies Refreshment Salon, later known as the Casino, in Central Park. Despite protests from park advocates who valued its historical and architectural significance, Moses insisted on tearing it down. His motivation was partly personal loyalty to Al Smith and a desire to erase the legacy of former mayor Jimmy Walker. A legal battle followed, but in the end, the courts upheld Moses’s authority, and the Casino was demolished, leaving behind only a few stained-glass windows as reminders.
In the end, the chapter presents Robert Moses as a visionary but often heavy-handed leader. His relentless push for efficiency, innovation, and public benefit transformed New York City’s parks and infrastructure. While his methods were sometimes harsh and controversial, the results—revitalized parks, new playgrounds, a reimagined zoo, and monumental projects like the Triborough Bridge—left a lasting imprint on the city and its people.