The Great Gatsby is published - F. Scott Fitzgerald famously refers to a plot of land "about halfway between West Egg and New York" as "the valley of ashes."
In 1933, the city purchased the Corona Ash Dumps from the Brooklyn Ash Removal Company. Nothing was done to the area in terms of renovation, as funds were scarce.
Robert Moses, the famous commissioner of the Department of Parks for New York City, suggests to hold the fair at the Corona Ash Dumps, partly as incentive to clear the area once and for all. With the funds now available because of the fair, Moses is able to begin renovation on "the valley of ashes."
The fair attracted over 45 million visitors to the park.
The first World's Fair was such a financial failure that Moses could not come up with the money to continue renovating the park. Only until he secured funds for the second World's Fair the park hosted was he able to finish the job. During this period, the park underwent a few minimal renovations.
After hosting the World's Fair, the park officially opens for public use.
"The people of Corona have long lived in the aroma of a junkyard or a dump named for their community. Now, when there is something beautiful to be seen, there is no mention of the name Corona," said Councilman Edward Sadowsky when explaining the reason behind the name change.
To properly host the fair, the park underwent renovation under the watch of Robert Moses. Many of the buildings and structures built for the 1964-1965 fair remain in use today.
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center opened in August of 1978.
