Sep 29 2010

Part II: Then & Now:  The Motor Parkway “Mayan Ruins” of Garden City


Yesterday the "Mayan Ruins" in Garden City were documented as abutments of an unfinished Motor Parkway bridge built as part of the 1907 agreement with the Garden City Company. Today, a "Then and Now" treatment of the long-forgotten bridge dating is provided from 1928 to 2010.

 

 

Then: 1928


 

   These August 1928 images show the unfinished bridge south of Old Country Road . The photo was taken at the scene of a car accident by Motor Parkway motorcycle patrolman Thomas Zinzi. His motorcycle can be seen on side of the Motor Parkway.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
Then: 1950

 

 

This 1950 aerial shows the Motor Parkway in Garden City looking south towards Clinton Road. The foundations for the Pell Terrace homes were just being built and the Clinton Road Motor Parkway Bridge had been taken down. Note: The brick wall on the Motor Parkway near Clinton Road to keep traffic from using the road.

 

December 6, 2010: A close-up of the 1950s aerial showing the Garden City Lodge and the General Manager's Office.


 

 

 

 

 

A close-up of the aerial reveals the "Mayan Ruins" bridge and the below-grade Motor Parkway in 1950.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Today: 2010

 

Art, creator of Art's Long Island Motor Parkway Site, has documented the Garden City bridge as it looks today with the permission of the homeowner. The top of the bridge abutments appear to be retaining walls. The below-grade section of the Motor Parkway has been completely filled in. Important: Remember that the bridge is on private property, please respect the homeowners' privacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In summary, the "Mayan Ruins" of the Motor Parkway in Garden City were not "ruins" or even walls, but the top sections of an unfinished below-grade Motor Parkway bridge. Since the planned cross-road was never built, the top of the bridge was never completed. It is likely that an archeological dig would find the Motor Parkway intact some 13-15 feet below the ground.

 

 

Thanks to Al Velocci, Tony Carroll, Art, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and the Garden City homeowners for helping to document this Motor Parkway historic site.

 

 

 

Links to related posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com:

Part I: The Motor Parkway “Mayan Ruins” in Garden City

Index: Long Island Motor Parkway

Long Island Motor Parkway-Nassau County

Great Neck Autofest Sets Record for Black Beast Drivers & Mechanicians



Comments

Nov 05 2012 S. Berliner, III 11:04 PM

Why am I somewhat less than impressed?  I had these abutments posted on my LIMP Bridges page since 05 Feb 2008, “The LIMP bridge that wasn’t!”, <http://sbiii.com/limpbrdg.html#gardcity>, even with YOUR own pix.  Happily, that is one of my LIMP pages that I had already restored (05 Oct 2010).  I’m still working on the rest.  Sam, III

Nov 05 2012 Howard Kroplick 11:38 PM

Hi Sam III:

Thanks for the comment. I remember providing these photos to you courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in 2008. Time flies!

http://sbiii.com/limpbrdg.html#gardcity

Enjoy,

Howard

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