Editing Flushing Meadows–Corona Park (section)

===Early years===
During at least three [[glacial period]]s, including the [[Wisconsin glaciation]] around 20,000 years ago, ice sheets advanced south across [[North America]] carving [[moraine]]s, valleys, and hills. In particular, bays and [[estuaries]] were formed along the north shore of [[Long Island]]. During glaciation, what is now Flushing Meadows Park was formed just north of the [[terminal moraine]] that runs across Long Island, which consisted of sand, gravel, clay and boulders.<ref>{{harvnb|Strategic Framework Plan|p=52}}; {{harvnb|Stage 1A Assessment|p=2}}; {{harvnb|Phase 1A Report|1985|p=3}}; {{harvnb|ps=.|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=31}}</ref> The moraine created a [[drainage divide]], with rivers north of the moraine such as the future [[Flushing River]] emptying into the north shore.{{sfn|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=32}} The Flushing Meadows site became a glacial lake, and then a salt marsh after the ice melted.{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=2}} Prior to glaciation, the Flushing River valley was used by the [[Hudson River]] to drain southward into the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref name="KissenaPk-WildSide-1988">{{cite web |last1=Feller |first1=Michael |title=Kissena Park: The Wild Side; A Guide to Its Natural Areas |url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/nrg/documents/NRG_Publication_Kissena_Park_The_Wild_Side_A_Guide_to_its_Natural_Areas.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/nrg/documents/NRG_Publication_Kissena_Park_The_Wild_Side_A_Guide_to_its_Natural_Areas.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]], Natural Resources Group |access-date=June 2, 2018 |date=December 1988 |page=2−4}}</ref> Through the 19th century, the site continued to consist of wetlands straddling Flushing River.{{sfn|Strategic Framework Plan|p=52}} Species inhabiting the site included [[waterfowl]] and [[fiddler crab]], with fish using water pools for spawning.{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=7}}

The area was first settled by [[Algonquian peoples|Algonquian]] Native Americans of Long Island (referred to erroneously as "[[Metoac|Mantinecocks]]").<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-History">{{cite web |title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park: History |url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/history |publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507123856/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/history |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JacksonKeller2010">{{cite enc-nyc|page=462}}</ref> They consisted of the "Canarsee" and "Rockaway" [[Lenape]] groups,{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=5}} which inhabited coastal wetlands across Queens and Brooklyn.<ref name="JacksonKeller2010" /><ref>{{cite web |author1=Natural Resources Group |title=Natural Area Mapping and Inventory of Spring Creek 1988 Survey |url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/nrg/documents/Ecological_Assessment_Spring_Creek.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/nrg/documents/Ecological_Assessment_Spring_Creek.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |publisher=[[New York City Parks Department]] |access-date=November 18, 2015 |page=2}}</ref> Beginning in 1640, Dutch settlers moved into the area, establishing the town of Newtown to the west of the site (which would become [[Elmhurst, Queens|Elmhurst]], [[Corona, Queens|Corona]], and other areas in western Queens), and the town of Flushing to the east.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-History"/> The meadows became known as the Corona Meadows.{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=8}} By 1666, the Native American population had been displaced from the Flushing Meadows site by European settlers, although a deed reserved the right to hunt on the land for the Native Americans. Several wealthy landowners began building farmhouses on the site in the mid-to-late 17th century. The meadows provided numerous natural resources for settlers, including timber, water, fertile soil, and grass and hay for grazing domestic animals.{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=8}} During the [[American Revolution]], a farmhouse on the site of the modern [[World's Fair Marina]] was used as a headquarters for British forces.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-Marina">{{cite web |url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/10392 |title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park: World's Fair Marina |publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407072820/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/10392 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Autumn.jpg|left|thumb|The park in fall]]

By the 1800s, primitive roads were established crossing the meadows, running along what are now [[Northern Boulevard]] and the [[Long Island Expressway]].{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|pp=8–9}} Several railroads were also laid through the site, including lines of the [[Flushing and North Side Railroad]] (today's LIRR [[Port Washington Branch]] and the defunct [[Whitestone Branch]]).{{sfn|Stage 1A Assessment|p=9}} Shortly after the [[American Civil War]], the meadows became a waterfront resort due to its natural beauty, and affluent New Yorkers constructed homes in the area.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-History"/> British saloon-keeper [[Harry Hill (sportsman)|Harry Hill]] built the Flushing Bay Hotel and Pavilion on the future marina site.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-Marina"/>