McGolrick Park

McGolrick Park is a three-acre neighborhood park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, bounded by Driggs Avenue, Nassau Avenue, Russell Street, and Monitor Street. The park is named for Monsignor Edward McGolrick, the beloved pastor of St. Cecilia's Church in Greenpoint who served the parish for over 50 years.

The park's centerpiece is the Monitor Monument, a memorial to the crew of the USS Monitor, the legendary ironclad warship that fought the CSS Virginia (Merrimack) in the first battle between armored warships at the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. The Monitor was built at the Continental Ironworks in Greenpoint, giving the neighborhood a direct connection to one of the most significant naval engagements in history.

McGolrick Park features a playground, basketball courts, a dog run, and beautifully landscaped areas with formal pathways and shade trees. The park underwent a restoration in 2010 that improved its landscaping, seating, and playground facilities while preserving its historic character.

Greenpoint has been a predominantly Polish-American neighborhood for over a century, and the area's Polish identity remains visible in its churches, restaurants, bakeries, and community organizations. In recent years, the neighborhood has also attracted young professionals and artists, diversifying the population while maintaining its distinctive cultural character.

McGolrick Park is the heart of Greenpoint, the park where neighbors walk dogs, children play after school, and the community gathers for seasonal events. Its combination of Civil War history, community naming, and everyday neighborhood function makes it one of the most characterful small parks in Brooklyn.