FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 31, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Normal LIRR
service resumes
after Labor Day
Th e commuter “summer of hell” is coming
to a close.
Th e Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) announced
Aug. 24 that it will resume regular weekday service
on Sept. 5. Th e new fall schedule, which will
be in eff ect until Nov. 12, can be seen at http://
lirr42.mta.info.
Additionally, the discounted fares and temporary
bus and ferry service put in place as alternative
travel options will end eff ective Sept. 1.
Th e LIRR announced its revised summer
schedule in mid-June, just prior to the long-anticipated
emergency repair work by Amtrak on
Penn Station tracks began on July 10. Th e work
impacted an estimated 10,000 LIRR customers
who ride during peak hours.
Riders with questions or concerns can contact
the LIRR’s Customer Service Center by calling
511 or 718-217-LIRR.
Suzanne Monteverdi
Two Legionnaires case
at Rego Park building
Th e Health Department is testing the water in
a Rego Park building aft er two residents were
diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease within the
past 12 months.
According to the Health Department, one
patient has been discharged while the other
remains hospitalized from the disease. Th e two
cases were diagnosed within six months of each
other.
On Tuesday, Aug. 22, tenants were notifi ed
about the investigation by their landlord and
the Health Department went door to door to the
residents the next day. Two days later, the building
management and the Health Department
hosted a tenant meeting to brief residents about
the investigation.
“While the risk of infection to tenants is very
low, as part of the routine protocol to assess
potential sources of Legionnaires’ disease, the
Health Department is working with the building
management to test the building’s water supply.”
said the Health Department in a statement.
Emily Davenport
Polling site restored at
Astoria school
A polling site at an Astoria elementary school
that closed in 2012 was offi cially reopened aft er
new funding helped to make the site ADAaccessible.
P.S. 2, located at 75-10 21st Ave., did not have
a ramp for wheelchair accessibility so the NYC
Board of Elections decided to stop using it as
a polling place in 2012. Instead, Astoria residents
were assigned to P.S. 84 and P.S. 85, which
Councilman Costa Constantinides said caused
travel and overcrowding issues.
Aft er hearing concerns from constituents,
Constantinides allocated $500,000 to the School
Construction Authority so that the agency could
install a ramp to meet ADA requirements.
Voters in Election Districts 46/36, 47/36,
48/36 and 83/36 will now vote at P.S. 2. To fi nd
your polling site visit nyc.pollsitelocator.com.
Th e primaries will take place on Sept. 12 and the
general elections will occur on Nov. 7.
Angela Matua
New playground unveiled
at Flushing’s Bowne Park
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A Flushing park’s playground has
a fun new face aft er a round of renovations.
Th e revamped playground at Bowne
Park, an 11-acre space bounded by
29th and 32nd avenues and 155th and
159th streets, was unveiled to the public
on Aug. 29. Th e park’s $2.45 million
total upgrade project has been in
the works since July 2014 and city offi -
cials broke ground on the project in
October 2016.
The $1.5 million playground
improvement includes treehouse-inspired
equipment for kids ages 2-5 and
6-12; an expanded spray shower system
with a turtle theme in a nod to the
park’s native wildlife; painted games;
new swings; and fully renovated basketball
courts. New benches will also
soon be installed throughout the park.
“It was great to stand with our borough
president, the Parks Department
and our community as we cut the ribbon
to unveil the incredible changes
and bright future for this wonderful
park,” said Councilman Paul Vallone,
who allocated funding for the project.
“Bowne Park has always been a gem in
North Flushing and these wonderfully
inspired upgrades will ensure the park
can be enjoyed by children and their
families for years to come.”
Nearing completion is the renovation
of the Bowne Park Field House,
which includes plans to achieve energy
effi ciency and ADA compliance. It
is expected to reopen in the fall.
Th e park’s pond will also be refurbished
and receive a new fi ltration
system. Th is project is currently in the
design phase, according to Vallone.
“Bowne Park’s new playground
and the future work still to come will
revitalize this space and turn it into
a jewel in which this neighborhood
can take pride,” Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz said. “While
the park has always been an oasis
for generations, it has had its share
of neglect. Now, thanks to the commitment
of Council member Vallone
and the Parks Department, North
Flushing will have a better park to better
serve the growing families of North
Flushing.”
Queens Parks Commissioner
Dorothy Lewandowski, Community
Board 7, the Bowne Park Civic
Association and the Broadway-
Flushing Homeowners Association
were also present for the Aug. 29 celebration.