Prior to its acquisition by the city, O’Donohue Park was a private community of summer homes and common space at the foot of Jarvis Lane, which later became Beach 9th Street.

The land was purchased by Mary O'Donohue in 1868 and her heirs continued to develop the property as a summer beach destination.

In 1925, developer Isaac Zaret purchased the property, naming it O'Donohue Park with the intention of building fifty homes on the site.

The city acquired it in 1942 and added another 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) to it in 1957, expanding the park westward towards Beach 17th Street.

[3] O’Donohue Park overlooks East Rockaway Inlet, an extension of Reynolds Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean.