Background
Mullaly, John was born in 1835 in Belfast, Ireland.
Mullaly, John was born in 1835 in Belfast, Ireland.
Mullaly Park in the Bronx, which lies between Jerome Avenue and River Avenue in the South Bronx, is named after him. After coming to the United States, he worked for the New York Herald, the New York Tribune, and the New York Evening Post. He held public office, including serving as the New York Commissioner of Health, and serving on the board of tax assessors.
In 1887, he published a book with the impressive title, New Parks beyond the Harlem with Thirty Illustrations and Map.
Descriptions of Scenery. Nearly 4000 Acres of Free Playground for the People.
Abundant space for a Parade Ground, a Rifle Range, Base Ball, Lacrosse, Polo, Tennis and all athletic games. Picnic and excursion parties and nine mile of waterfront for bathing fishing, yachting and rowing.
Scanned images and full text of this book are available on-line.
On August 19, 1864, John Mullaly was arrested for inciting resistance to the draft and examined a few days later for possible trial. In 1874 when New York City annexed the west Bronx from Westchester County, Mullally sought to create public parks in the Bronx, and founded the New York Park Association in 1881. His efforts culminated in the 1884 New Parks Acting and the city’s 1888-1890 purchase of lands for Van Cortlandt, Claremont, Crotona, Bronx, Saint Mary's, and Pelham Bay Parks and the Mosholu, Pelham and Crotona Parkways.
Member board assessors.