Murray Park

Murray Playground is named after John F. Murray, a lifelong Queens resident who worked as a dedicated recreation supervisor for the city parks department for many years. Murray died in 1944 at the age of fifty-four, and the city officially named this site in his honor in 1948. Beyond his formal job, he was a prominent community figure who trained local prizefighters and led the Long Island City chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He was deeply involved in local life, organizing everything from blood donation drives to boxing tournaments.