New York City Car Rental and a Woodside Overview
Woodside is a neighborhood in Queens that you can visit with your New York City car rental. It is bordered by Maspeth to the south, Astoria to the north, Sunnyside to the west, and Elmhurst and Jackson Heights to the east. Many areas of this community are residential, but especially near Roosevelt Avenue it has a very urban feel.
Kiss me, I'm Irish
Woodside has always maintained a large Irish community. In fact, this is the largest Irish American community in Queens that you can visit with your New York City car rental. Going back to the 1930s, the area was nearly 80% people of Irish descent. As you can see when you drive through with your New York City car rental, there are a number of Irish pubs and restaurants that cater to the community still. Many of these pubs and restaurants cater to particular cities and regions in Ireland, so brush up on your Irish geography and history before you visit!
Find your roots
Today, Woodside has a number of other ethnicities as well that mix into the area. Woodside's population is now about 30% Asian American, with large populations of Korean Americans, Chinese Americans, and Filipino Americans in their own areas of the community. There is also a significant South Asian and Latino community in Woodside.
Don't forget the middle
Doughboy Park is located at the intersection of Woodside Avenue and Skillman Avenue in Woodside with your New York City car rental. It is named after the monument that has stood in the park since 1923. It comes from the First World War, when American soldiers were referred to by British soldiers as doughboys because of the large round buttons on their uniforms. These buttons reminded British soldiers of the cakes they ate - doughboys.
Remember the fallen
The statue in the park depicts an American infantry soldier in bronze. These sculptures can be found in all five boroughs of the city. The artist who made this particular sculpture also created the doughboy for the Flanders Field Memorial in De Witt Clinton Park in Manhattan. These statues serve as a reminder for all of the local men and women who served in World War I. Even before the statue was made, this was the site of a local tradition, as you may learn when you visit with your New York City car rental. Local soldiers would gather here at the "mustering ground" before departing for World War I. Ten men who left from this site did not return as they lost their lives on the battlefield. Since the dedication ceremony in 1923, community members have gathered at the site on Memorial Day to be patriotic. Since 2006, there is also the addition of a 9/11 memorial plaque for those who lived or worked in Woodside and died in the attack. There are 34 names listed.
Woodside is an urban community in the heart of Queens, but has a suburban feel to it. When you visit, you will want to see the monuments in Doughboy Park, as well as try some food and a pint at a local Irish pub.
