Community News
BY BILL PARRY
The crowned jewel of
Astoria has a special
shine after the city’s
Parks Department com-pleted
the first phase of
its $30 million Astoria
Park renovation project seven months
ahead of schedule.
The project covered the 12-acre ath-letic
portion of the green space that
included a complete reconstruction of
the track for runners and a brand-new
interior synthetic turf for soccer.
“I’m so happy to see this new track
and soccer field, which we could only
dream of a decade ago, is open ahead of
schedule,” Councilman Costa Constan-tinides
said. “Astoria Park is a 60-acre
jewel for this community, and this state-of-
the-art facility only solidified that fact.
I want to thank the Parks Department
for delivering this seven months early
as well as our great civic organizations,
especially the Astoria Park Alliance,
whose members have fought so long
for this transformative renovation.”
Additionally, several paths were re-aligned
to allow for better drainage, new
bleachers and lighting were installed and
to take advantage of the sweeping views
of the East River and the Manhattan
skyline and new seating was installed
along the eastern edge of the park. An
adult fitness area with new equipment is
right next to the track and the bleachers.
“We could not be more pleased that
the track is open in time for folks to
enjoy it on these beautiful fall days,”
NYC Park Commissioner Mitchell Silver
said. “This is the first of the Anchor
Park transformations to make our old
destinations new again.”
The de Blasio administration first
introduced the Anchor Parks initiative,
in which one park in each borough was
selected for major renovations, in 2016.
22 NOVEMBER 2019 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
One of the criteria for Astoria Park’s
selection was that at least 750,000
people live within walking distance of it.
“I am so pleased that Phase 1 of the
Astoria Park project renovations were
completed months ahead of schedule.
It is crucial that we continue to expand,
modernize and protect our public spaces,
especially our parks,” Assemblywoman
Aravella Simotas said. “I am grateful to
the Astoria Park Alliance that led the
fight to rehabilitate the park’s soccer
and track fields, and to my friend and
partner in government, Council member
Constantinides, whose efforts have cre-ated
major improvements to the jewel of
our community. Growing up in Astoria,
the park was always a place I explored
and cherished, and I am so thrilled that
we are finally making these major capital
investments.”
Phase 2 of the project will include
the reconstruction of the Charybdis
Playground with new spray showers
and comfort station with construction
expected to be completed by 2021.
“This is just the first leg in the new
Astoria Park, with work on a renovated
Charybdis Playground already under-way
as part of the historic $30 million
investment we secured three years ago,”
Constantinides said.
As for the incessant flooding that
takes place during heavy rainstorms
and turn Shore Boulevard into a canal,
a rain garden with native plantings has
been proposed as part of the larger
drainage strategy and was one of the
most requested design features at a
scoping meeting last November.
“I am pleased the upgrades to As-toria
Park will be completed sooner
than expected,” state Senator Michael
Gianaris said. “This park is a treasure
to our neighborhood and an asset for
the entire city. These improvements
will make it a destination for another
generation.”
AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE
AT ASTORIA
PARK
Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
Parks Department completes first phase of Astoria Park
renovation seven months early
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