The 229th Street (131) Block Association has been a cornerstone of the Laurelton community for more than 40 years. Founded with a mission to promote public safety, civic engagement, and mutual support, the association has long helped homeowners access resources that protect their homes and sustain intergenerational wealth.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the block association was especially active—hosting vibrant block parties, organizing community trips, and mobilizing neighbors around public safety issues. These efforts were spearheaded by the late Ron Hickman and other dedicated members of the association. As a police officer and community leader, Mr. Hickman ensured that the block not only stayed safe, but also had sponsored opportunities for joy, connection, and fun.
At a time when Laurelton faced increased crime and the crack epidemic, neighbors came together to look out for one another. Residents organized to ensure every home had proper lighting and worked collectively to shut down a crack house on the block. Even beyond moments of crisis, the association remained a steady source of care—hosting block meetings and providing family, condolence, and get-well gifts to neighbors in need.
Many of the association’s elected officers have since passed, but their legacy lives on. Community members such as Carmelo Garcia and Lucille Granville were instrumental in running the block association and creating what many remember as the best block parties in Laurelton during the 1980s. Today, as the 229th Street (131) Block Association is being reorganized, its founding officers, Violet Huie and Lilian Gradofsky, continue to remain connected to its roots and mission.
If you were there, you remember.
The 229th Street (131) Block Association block parties were unforgettable—complete with a swim mobile, skate mobile, pie-eating contests, raffles, and more. As a little girl, I remember watching from my window as Mr. Hickman roped off the street, often parking his car to block traffic so we could celebrate safely. He would walk the block all day carrying a McDonald’s container filled with bright orange drink, keeping kids energized as we biked up and down the street. One year, we even had a Mr. Softee truck parked on the block for the entire day.
Those block parties made childhood sweeter—and they were only possible because neighbors showed up for one another.
The tradition continues.
The 229th Street (131) Block Association will host a block party on May 30, 2026, and in honor of a man who helped build the spirit of our block, it will be renamed “The Ron Hickman 229th Street Block Party.”
We warmly invite all community members who lived on the block—or experienced the joy of those block parties—to reconnect, participate, and celebrate with us. For those who would like to contribute to this year’s event and help sustain future block parties, the association has created an Amazon Wish List to support community-building efforts.
In addition, we are launching a multimedia community history project to preserve the memories of the 229th Street (131) block parties. If you have photos, videos, or written stories you’d like to share, please send them to cj@divasforsocialjustice.org.
This block has always been more than a street—it has been a family. We look forward to building the next chapter together.
