Luke J. Lang Square

The triangle honors Luke J. Lang (c.1894-1917), a soldier who gave his life in World War I. Lang lived on Bleecker Street in the neighborhood of Ridgewood and worked as a printer at J.E. Hetsch on Duane Street in Manhattan; he enlisted in June 1917, and NYC Parks records that "the details of his death are unknown." The land was owned by Alden Sampson & Son, and the City acquired the site in September 1916 by condemnation. The Board of Aldermen named the park for Lang in April 1933. It was renovated between 1935 and 1936, when blue-stone sidewalks and hexagonal pavers were added, a central flagpole with seats was installed and three Norway maples were planted, and again in 2000 with $13,353 allocated by Mayor Giuliani.