Mayor declares Staten Island has new landmark: ‘It opened its doors when others turned Black New Yorkers away’

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A longtime piece of Oakwood and a special place for New York City’s Black community earned landmark status Tuesday.

Mayor Eric Adams announced the new status for Frederick Douglass Memorial Park marking it as an early celebration of Juneteenth, which will take place Wednesday as the date marking the end of U.S. slavery.

Staten Island’s elected officials supported the push to landmark the cemetery. Here’s what some of them had to say:

“This designation of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Park as a landmark is an important achievement for the Staten Island community,” said State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn). “This cemetery offered a place where Black New Yorkers could be laid to rest with the honor they deserved. Now, decades later, the ancestors of so many of my constituents remain buried here with dignity. This landmark status is not just about preservation; it’s about celebrating the resilience and contributions of those who came before them. It is truly a milestone to honor the rich history and legacy of Frederick Douglass Memorial Park for the past, present and future generations.”

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