Jacob August Riis (1849-1914), best known as a groundbreaking journalist and photographer, spent many of his working years in Richmond Hill, moving into his home nearby this triangle at 84-41 120th Street in 1886.

Riis was born on May 3, 1849, in Ribe, Denmark, and immigrated to New York in 1870. After working various jobs, he was hired by the New York Tribune as a police reporter in 1877. He soon began documenting poverty, especially in the Lower East Side and Five Points areas of Manhattan. Starting around 1887, Riis brought along a camera, and in 1890, his book How the Other Half Lives was released. It contained dramatic photos and essays illustrating the challenging lives of immigrants on the Lower East Side.

The book profoundly impacted the country, particularly New York, where the Police Commissioner at the time was Theodore Roosevelt. Riis's work inspired Roosevelt to support legislation aimed at improving living conditions in the slums.

While Governor, Roosevelt attended Riis's daughter's wedding on June 1, 1900, at the Church of the Resurrection, the oldest church in Richmond Hill, located just a few blocks from this triangle. A plaque outside the church commemorates Roosevelt's appearance, while a memorial to the Riis family is located inside.

Through his reporting on the struggles of New Yorkers, Riis developed a belief that play had a therapeutic effect on people. As a result, he championed small parks and playgrounds, especially in areas with little green space, and served as secretary of the Small Parks Committee.

While on a speaking tour in 1914, Riis fell ill at a stop in New Orleans. His family brought him to their summer home in Barre, Massachusetts, to recuperate, but he passed away on May 26, 1914.

Originally acquired by the City of New York in 1945, this park was officially named for Riis on May 8, 1990. The renaming was proposed by Council Member Arthur Katzman at the request of Felix Cuervo and Robert P. Mangieri of the Native New Yorker’s Historical Association. A dedication ceremony was held on September 15, 1990.

Two other locations in Queens are also named for Riis: a park in Rockaway and a community center (settlement house) in Queensbridge.