spring 2026 walking tour!
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Venture across Bell Blvd with us as the Bellcourt Civic Association hosts a walking tour of the east end of Bayside. We'll visit the landmarked Hawthorne Apartments as well as the historic Lawrence Burying Ground, the 1924 Engine 306 Firehouse, and the All Saints Episcopal Church. Paul DiBenedetto will be our guide to these important sites, and we'll have some surprises along the way!
Free to Bellcourt Civic members; we ask for a $5 donation from non-members. Become a member the day of the tour and the event is free!
Meet on the east side of Bell Blvd at 42nd Avenue at 11 am. For questions, email info@bellcourt.org
bellcourt divided: May 6, 2023
How the Clearview Changed Bayside Forever
In 1955, plans were released for the construction of the Clearview Expressway. The highway would take traffic from the soon-to-be-built Throgs Neck Bridge to the Long Island Expressway, linking the Bronx and New England to Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island. After years of controversy, the route of the Clearview ultimately sliced through Bayside, displacing 421 homes along its path — dozens of them in Bellcourt. Please join us on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11 am for a fascinating walking tour of Bellcourt's great divide. We will be discussing the history of the plan, community opposition, Robert Moses' involvement, and historical details of the actual process.
Photo: A home being prepared for relocation to make way for the Clearview. Some homes were razed; others were picked up and moved to other locations.
RESCHEDULED FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF APRIL 29 DUE TO RAIN IN THE FORECAST
Join the Walk!
Meet at the 39th Avenue overpass of the Clearview Expressway at 11 am on Saturday, May 6, 2023. The tour is free to members, with a $5 suggested donation for non-members. If you'd like to join that day, membership forms will be available, and your $5 donation will be applied to the cost of your membership. Or join now to attend free!