we actually pulled it off and that giant rock is officially staying right where it belongs. i am honestly blown away that the hotel listened to us after everything. thanks for sticking with this until the end because the rock is safe now.
October 16, 2017
Final supporters
To:
John Reynolds
General Manager
LaGuardia Plaza Hotel
104-04 Ditmars Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
[email protected]
and
Jim Norris
General Manager
Hampton Inn New York - LaGuardia Airport
102-40 Ditmars Blvd
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
[email protected]
The “Giant Rock” has been on Ditmars Boulevard in East Elmhurst for as long as anyone can remember. Once surrounded by an empty lot, it was the playing ground for neighborhood children, and inspired such affection that neighbors have rallied to protect it from removal more than once.
It currently sits in a parking lot near LaGuardia airport, nestled between two hotels. Around 1980, when a Crowne Plaza Hotel was being built on the site, the community of East Elmhurst rallied together to make sure that it could rest in peace. 19 years later, the rock was threatened again, by the construction of the Hampton Inn. They attempted to bast it into tiny pieces, they attempted to dig it up, Once again the community came together, and the rock now stands, where it always has, regal and silent.
The Crowne Plaza hotel put decided to rename the Giant Rock and placed a plaque near it explaining it origins and calling it the Pet Rock . It is 1000-Ton boulder was brought to our community location by an ice sheet about 12,000 years ago.
We have always called it the Giant Rock and we want the plaque fixed. It seems that our letter to the hotels that sit on either side of the Giant Rock have made the decision to ignore us.
"All my siblings & cousins played on the "Giant Rock" It is the largest memento of our childhood." "By the time I came along the hotels were were up and the Giant Rock was sequestered in a parking lot. But, my parents told the stories of high adventure atop and around the Giant Rock. It isn't a pet, it's an icon, a symbol of stability. It is the landmark that tells us we are now home. It is a gift given to this community ions ago. The community embraced it and name it, "The Giant Rock". Respect that please. " " Wonder who told them the name was Pet Rock?" " I was playing on and picnicking on Giant Rock in the 1950's. I grew up on 98th Street between Astoria Boulevard and 25th Avenue long before 127 park was built, before many of the homes were built in our play lots, when we could stand on the outside deck see LaGuardia airport and watch the planes take off and land and wave at the passengers…” IT'S THE ‘GIANT ROCK’- FIX IT!” “" I want to add my voice to this chorus. The Giant Rock represents, excuse the pun, a touchstone for almost every young person who lived in East Elmhurst from 1940 to the 70s. We all have our stories and memories of that rock…” " I remember walking from Butler Street with others on the block, asking my grandmother can I go with them to the giant rock to play. It would be great if you could change the plaque." " Back in the day, some of us would take our trips on any given Saturday to the Giant Rock. It was a big deal back then. They need to respect its given name and leave it alone." These are but a few of the community sentiments about the renaming of our rock without consulting the community.
Therefore, John Reynolds, General Manager of the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, Jim Norris, General Manager of the Hampton Inn New York - LaGuardia Airport we will not be ignored. community has strong sentimental ties to this 1000-Ton boulder. Many of us have roots in this community going back far as the 1920s. The boulder has always been revered and referred to as the “Giant Rock”, not the “Pet “ rock. We have fond childhood memories of this historic specimen; it is a community icon. We honor it. We are greatly disturbed by the arbitrary renaming of the rock and that it was renamed without any consultation with the community.
As one resident put it, “Neighborhoods change, old folks pass away, kids grow up and leave and new folks come in. But, the Giant Rock remained just that - 'The Giant Rock' - solid and stable.”
The Corona East Elmhurst Historic Preservation Society (CEEHPS) has been asked to act as representatives for the community residents that feel strongly about this matter. We are asking that the current plaque be replaced with one that calls this community icon by its proper name, the name given it by residents of Corona-East Elmhurst— the “Giant Rock”.
Updates
August 29, 2017
im still reading through all the old stories people are leaving about the rock and they are honestly so cool. i dont have any updates from the hotel managers yet but the silence from them is just making me more determined to keep this going.
August 29, 2017
i honestly never thought we would get this kind of energy for a giant rock. it feels like people are finally starting to see why this spot matters so much to us.
42 Comments
It has been said the past is never past but remains a living and important part of our understanding of the present. In a literal and figurative sense, the Giant Rock has been a necessary 'touch stone' in the lives of those of us who grew up in East Elmhurst/Corona. It would be a tragic loss to the history of the community if it were to be removed.
From 1955 to the 1990's I had a home on 102nd street right behind THE GIANT ROCK!! Many days I sat at the top of this neighborhood landmark and watched airplanes fly into Laguardia Airport while I dreamed the dreams of youngsters. I've always known the landmark as THE GIANT ROCK and it should stay that way.
They want to name it Pet Rock because that's where they take their pets to defecate and urinate on our historical past. Leave the name as is.
The thousands of children who played on the Giant Rock over the years have seen massive changes in their old neighborhood, which is now unrecognizable. The Giant Rock, a gift of the ice age, is one stable thing to return to. It would be a truly generous gesture to restore its name and dedicate it to the past generations of local children who see it as an old friend.
I grew up on 97th St between Astoria Blvd and 25th Ave. We were a family of 13 and the "Giant" rock was a place to play. We loved going there and remember it fondly. The name should reflect its past. This should be a non-issue. Just change the name and be done with it.
I love the giant rock. I am a rock lover since I could pick up a rock!
I grew up in East Elmhurst and played on Giant Rock. That rock has always been known as Giant Rock.
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we actually pulled it off and that giant rock is officially staying right where it belongs. i am honestly blown away that the hotel listened to us after everything. thanks for sticking with this until the end because the rock is safe now.
October 16, 2017
Final supporters
To:
John Reynolds
General Manager
LaGuardia Plaza Hotel
104-04 Ditmars Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
[email protected]
and
Jim Norris
General Manager
Hampton Inn New York - LaGuardia Airport
102-40 Ditmars Blvd
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
[email protected]
The “Giant Rock” has been on Ditmars Boulevard in East Elmhurst for as long as anyone can remember. Once surrounded by an empty lot, it was the playing ground for neighborhood children, and inspired such affection that neighbors have rallied to protect it from removal more than once.
It currently sits in a parking lot near LaGuardia airport, nestled between two hotels. Around 1980, when a Crowne Plaza Hotel was being built on the site, the community of East Elmhurst rallied together to make sure that it could rest in peace. 19 years later, the rock was threatened again, by the construction of the Hampton Inn. They attempted to bast it into tiny pieces, they attempted to dig it up, Once again the community came together, and the rock now stands, where it always has, regal and silent.
The Crowne Plaza hotel put decided to rename the Giant Rock and placed a plaque near it explaining it origins and calling it the Pet Rock . It is 1000-Ton boulder was brought to our community location by an ice sheet about 12,000 years ago.
We have always called it the Giant Rock and we want the plaque fixed. It seems that our letter to the hotels that sit on either side of the Giant Rock have made the decision to ignore us.
"All my siblings & cousins played on the "Giant Rock" It is the largest memento of our childhood." "By the time I came along the hotels were were up and the Giant Rock was sequestered in a parking lot. But, my parents told the stories of high adventure atop and around the Giant Rock. It isn't a pet, it's an icon, a symbol of stability. It is the landmark that tells us we are now home. It is a gift given to this community ions ago. The community embraced it and name it, "The Giant Rock". Respect that please. " " Wonder who told them the name was Pet Rock?" " I was playing on and picnicking on Giant Rock in the 1950's. I grew up on 98th Street between Astoria Boulevard and 25th Avenue long before 127 park was built, before many of the homes were built in our play lots, when we could stand on the outside deck see LaGuardia airport and watch the planes take off and land and wave at the passengers…” IT'S THE ‘GIANT ROCK’- FIX IT!” “" I want to add my voice to this chorus. The Giant Rock represents, excuse the pun, a touchstone for almost every young person who lived in East Elmhurst from 1940 to the 70s. We all have our stories and memories of that rock…” " I remember walking from Butler Street with others on the block, asking my grandmother can I go with them to the giant rock to play. It would be great if you could change the plaque." " Back in the day, some of us would take our trips on any given Saturday to the Giant Rock. It was a big deal back then. They need to respect its given name and leave it alone." These are but a few of the community sentiments about the renaming of our rock without consulting the community.
Therefore, John Reynolds, General Manager of the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, Jim Norris, General Manager of the Hampton Inn New York - LaGuardia Airport we will not be ignored. community has strong sentimental ties to this 1000-Ton boulder. Many of us have roots in this community going back far as the 1920s. The boulder has always been revered and referred to as the “Giant Rock”, not the “Pet “ rock. We have fond childhood memories of this historic specimen; it is a community icon. We honor it. We are greatly disturbed by the arbitrary renaming of the rock and that it was renamed without any consultation with the community.
As one resident put it, “Neighborhoods change, old folks pass away, kids grow up and leave and new folks come in. But, the Giant Rock remained just that - 'The Giant Rock' - solid and stable.”
The Corona East Elmhurst Historic Preservation Society (CEEHPS) has been asked to act as representatives for the community residents that feel strongly about this matter. We are asking that the current plaque be replaced with one that calls this community icon by its proper name, the name given it by residents of Corona-East Elmhurst— the “Giant Rock”.
Updates
August 29, 2017
im still reading through all the old stories people are leaving about the rock and they are honestly so cool. i dont have any updates from the hotel managers yet but the silence from them is just making me more determined to keep this going.
August 29, 2017
i honestly never thought we would get this kind of energy for a giant rock. it feels like people are finally starting to see why this spot matters so much to us.
42 Comments
What is now left of the original Giant Rock is very little of what we knew growing up in East Elmhurst. It is a disgrace to the Ice Age history of the rock to call it a "Pet Rock" after the hotel covered it up and an affront to the community it has been so much a part of for generations.
It has been said the past is never past but remains a living and important part of our understanding of the present. In a literal and figurative sense, the Giant Rock has been a necessary 'touch stone' in the lives of those of us who grew up in East Elmhurst/Corona. It would be a tragic loss to the history of the community if it were to be removed.
From 1955 to the 1990's I had a home on 102nd street right behind THE GIANT ROCK!! Many days I sat at the top of this neighborhood landmark and watched airplanes fly into Laguardia Airport while I dreamed the dreams of youngsters. I've always known the landmark as THE GIANT ROCK and it should stay that way.
They want to name it Pet Rock because that's where they take their pets to defecate and urinate on our historical past. Leave the name as is.
The thousands of children who played on the Giant Rock over the years have seen massive changes in their old neighborhood, which is now unrecognizable. The Giant Rock, a gift of the ice age, is one stable thing to return to. It would be a truly generous gesture to restore its name and dedicate it to the past generations of local children who see it as an old friend.
I grew up on 97th St between Astoria Blvd and 25th Ave. We were a family of 13 and the "Giant" rock was a place to play. We loved going there and remember it fondly. The name should reflect its past. This should be a non-issue. Just change the name and be done with it.
I love the giant rock. I am a rock lover since I could pick up a rock!
I grew up in East Elmhurst and played on Giant Rock. That rock has always been known as Giant Rock.
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What is now left of the original Giant Rock is very little of what we knew growing up in East Elmhurst. It is a disgrace to the Ice Age history of the rock to call it a "Pet Rock" after the hotel covered it up and an affront to the community it has been so much a part of for generations.