During the later 19th century, Joseph and Mary Crocheron moved to Bayside (known as Bay Side) and opened the Crocheron House.  The hotel, next to home of former NYC Mayor Andrew Mickle,  brought prominent New Yorkers an escape from Manhattan.  Politicians and local visitors enjoyed the Hotel's Clambakes, known as Clambake a la Crocheron, hunting, and community events on the land.  Legend has it,  that the hotel took part in Boss Tweed's great escape from ludlow jail, where he absconded to Spain.  In 1907, the Crocheron House, still known as such under new ownership,  caught fire for the the final time.  After-which, the community began to further utilize the land. 

In 1920, John Golden purchased the land to the north of Crocheron Park.  Golden immediately opening up his estate's gates to the community.  Over the next 35 years, John Golden established community ground on his private estate, including multiple baseball fields. For this, and his additional advocacy for the town, he became affectionately known as Mr. Bayside.

By 1925, the Bayside community successfully advocated for the City of New York to purchase the former grounds of the Crocheron House to create a park.  The city, under the leadership of Robert Moses, soon began to make   renovations to improve access to the park, pond, and bay. In 1934, an influx of funding from the New Deal helped the park to finish construction and officially open in 1936.  

In 1955, John Golden bequeathed his estate to City of New York “for the use and enjoyment by the young people of the community of all races and creeds in a manner similar to that in which I made this property available for recreation and community acts during my lifetime.”  On October 18, 1965, renovations connecting Crocheron Park and John Golden Park were complete.  The dedicated was attended by Robert Moses.

Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park began in 2020 to assist NYC Parks in stewardship of the parkland.  By protecting environmentally sustainable functions of the pond, woodlands, and gardens, we can support pollinator populations, wildlife, biodiversity, while also creating an aesthetics pleasing environments that support educational endeavors.