JAMAICA CENTER BID PARTNERS WITH LOCAL
GROUPS TO BEAUTIFY PARSONS PUBLIC SPACE
SENIOR
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JUNE 25-JULY 1, 2021 9
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The Jamaica Center BID, in
collaboration with the Southeast
Queens Cleanup Initiative,
hosted a community cleanup
and beautification event at Parsons
Public Space in downtown
Jamaica on Sunday, June 13.
Parsons Public Space was
constructed by the NYC Department
of Transportation several
years ago as a temporary public
space, and is scheduled to
become a permanent public
plaza after additional work by
the city’s Department of Design
and Construction is completed.
Although Parsons Public
Space does not fall within the
Jamaica Center BID’s boundaries,
the BID decided to coordinate
a cleanup and beautification
initiative this summer due
to its prominent location and
importance to the community.
Jennifer Furioli, Jamaica
BID’s executive director, said
they noticed that many of the
original shrubs in the 35 planters
at Parsons died or toppled
over, and no decorative greenery
or flowers remained.
“Parsons Public Space is
one of Jamaica Avenue’s ‘front
yards’ and first impressions
for those coming to shop,”
Furioli said. “By providing a
clean sweep to remove litter
and planting some new greenery,
we hope to provide a better
experience this summer for
downtown Jamaica’s returning
workers and shoppers as
we fully reopen downtown for
business.”
This is the second community
cleanup event the BID has
done in collaboration with the
SEQ Cleanup Initiative, a new
grassroots nonprofit that engages
local volunteers to assist
with picking up litter in local
parks, potting and planting in
local community gardens, as
well as helping with painting of
murals to add to the beautification
of southeast Queens.
The first event, a “side
street cleanup” last December,
removed litter from the highly
trafficked 162nd Street, a side
street leading from a popular
parking lot to Jamaica Avenue,
in order to give shoppers a
more positive first impression
as they approached downtown
for holiday shopping.
“SEQ Cleanup’s mission is
to inspire southeast Queens
residents to ‘do their part’ to
be proactive when it comes to
the revitalization and beautification
of this community.
When we all do our part, we
are one step closer to reaching
our intended goal,” said Antoinette
“DJ Nett” Lawson, founder
of SEQ Cleanup Initiative.
Additional community partners
involved in the event included
Alana Simmons, founder
and owner of Linden Studio
17 in St. Albans, who provided
project management and promotional
support for the event.
Cambria Heights Florist
provided expertise and guidance
on the planting portion
of the event, and the 103rd
Precinct’s Community Affairs
Division also participated.
The Home Depot store, located
at 92-30 at 168th St., donated
soil and cleaning supplies for
the event, while three restaurants
in front of Parsons Public
Space — Golden Krust, Popeyes
and Dunkin’ Donuts — provided
meals for the volunteers.
The flowers and greenery will
be watered during the summer
by the adjacent landlord,
Mattone Investors.
“This is truly a communityled
initiative with established
and new nonprofits, local business,
property owners and everyday
volunteers pitching in
to make this happen,” Furioli
said. “We’re thrilled to work
with SEQ Cleanup again and
are grateful to Linden Studios
and Cambria Heights Florist
for their community leadership
in this particular event.”
Volunteers pitched in to help clean up and beautify Parsons Public
Space in downtown Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Jamaica Center BID
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