Construction of the redesign of Challenge Playground in Little Neck is slated to be completed in May 2022. Photo by NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
Top stories to watch for in NE Queens in 2022
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JAN. 7 - JAN. 13, 2022 7
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Several projects began in 2021 and
are set to debut within the next few
months, including the Bayside Historical
Society’s 21st Annual Winter Art
Show coming to Queens in February
2022.
Keep reading to see what else is
in store for the new year in northeast
Queens.
Bayside Historical Society 21st Annual
Winter Art Show
From now until Jan. 12, 2022, the
Bayside Historical Society is holding
an open call for creators to feature at
its 21st Annual Winter Art Show. Organizers
made a decision to hold a virtual
event for the second year in a row due to
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization said that it is looking
for artists ages 18 and older who live,
work or attend school in Queens and
work in a variety of media including
painting, drawing and sculpting.
Those who are chosen will submit
photos of their artwork to be exhibited
in virtual “galleries” on the BHS website
to be on display for the entire month
of February 2022. Selections from the
show will also be displayed at the Bay
Terrace Shopping Center on a voluntary
basis.
Last year, BHS’ 20th annual art show
went virtual due to the pandemic and
artists also had the opportunity to show
their work in storefronts at the shopping
center.
Funding for the show is made possible,
in part, by public funds from the
New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs in partnership with the City
Council.
Open call for the art show is ongoing
until Jan. 12. Visit baysidehistorical.
org/bhs-winter-art-show to find out how
to submit artwork.
Renovations on Bay Terrace Library
begin
The Queens Public Library held a
groundbreaking for its Bay Terrace
branch on Dec. 14 in preparation for a
$5.7 million overhaul in 2022.
The two-year project is set to begin
as early as March 2022 and will include
an expansion of the main entrance, improvements
to the exterior garden area
and a full interior renovation.
“With these renovations, the Bay
Terrace branch will be more welcoming,
inspiring and technologically efficient,
and will reinforce its role as the
center of community life,” Queens Public
Library President and CEO Dennis
Walcott said. “I want to thank Council
member Paul Vallone for his advocacy
and financial support for libraries in
his district and beyond, and Mayor Bill
de Blasio, Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards and state Senator
John Liu for securing the funds to modernize
the Bay Terrace branch, helping
ensure Queens Public Library can continue
to provide free access to information,
knowledge and opportunity for
all.”
According to QPL, the Bay Terrace
library will undergo a full interior renovation
that will feature updated furniture
and technology; a new designated
teen area; a new, state-of-the-art multipurpose
community room with audiovisual
equipment; and a new ADA-compliant
ramp that gives access from the 23rd
Avenue side entrance.
Other features of the overhaul include
a new HVAC stem and an energyefficient
roof.
Challenge Playground comes to Little
Neck
In summer 2021, NYC Parks and
elected officials broke ground at the site
of the upcoming Challenge Playground
in Little Neck. According to the Parks
Department, the $3,075,000 redesign
includes new sensory play equipment,
fencing and a modernized spray shower
to replace an old cement wading pool.
Councilman Barry Grodenchik and
former Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz visited the site a 251st Street
and 61st Avenue back in January 2019,
which led to plans to build a new playground
in the area.
According to Parks, the playground
will feature auditory and visual elements
that offer playful shadows effects,
sounds and touchable features. It will
also include new seating and picnic areas,
plantings and repaved pedestrian
pathways.
Funding for the project was made
possible by a $75,000 allocation from
Grodenchik, $3 million from Katz and
continued support from Borough President
Richards.
“Playgrounds are critical to the
health of a community, so the redesign
and reconstruction of Challenge Playground
will provide tremendous benefit
to the communities of Little Neck and
Douglaston,” Grodenchik said.
Construction on the project is set to
finish in May 2022.
To track the project’s progress, visit
nycgovparks.org.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal by
e-mail at jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260-2583.
2022 PREVIEW
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