Steeplechase Park

In June 1966, the New York Times described city streets as “a perfect place to flee from yesterday as the temperature climbed to 90 degrees on the first really hot day of the season.” One woman told a reporter, “If you’re in the city there’s only one thing to do on a day like today. Just sit under a tree.”

Sources:

Bernard Weinraub, “90 Temperature Sends New Yorkers Fleeing to Beaches,” New York Times, June 5, 1966, 1.

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Shade in the Melting Metropolis

Shade makes all the difference on a hot summer day. New Yorkers have long gathered under shade trees in parks and walked on the shady side of the street to beat the heat. Shade can also be portable. A parasol or a wide-brimmed hat make time spent in the sun more tolerable. A sun canopy or umbrella makes a trip to the beach safer and cooler. However it can be found, shade provides the relief necessary for New Yorkers in the summertime.