FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 • The Queens Courier 3 LIC welcomes new dog run at Gantry Plaza State Park BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com/@aaltamirano28 RIDGEWOOD TIMES/File photo Fido now has a new place to run free, all while enjoying the view of the Manhattan skyline. A day after celebrating National Dog Day, the Long Island City community came together Thursday morning to officially open a new dog run at Gantry Plaza State Park — filled with amenities that will make any pooch and its owner enjoy their time at the park even more. Located at Center Boulevard and 46th Road, the dog run features a beach pebble surface, a multi-user drinking fountain, sustainable hardwood seating, a stainless steel mesh fence mounted on a concrete curb, and a perimeter landscape buffer. There are also dog waste bags provided on site. “The addition of Gantry Plaza State Park’s new versatile dog run provides Long Island City’s growing population of dog owners with increased access to open space in a park that has become one of New York City’s top destinations,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said. “As Long Island City continues to grow, it is important that we continue to provide families with the quality amenities they can enjoy for years to come in a great neighborhood that cherishes the companionship of its furry little friends.” The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation worked with developer TF Cornerstone to design the $750,000 dog run and once going through community review, the project, which is funded by the Queens West Public Infrastructure Fund, began last spring. The dog run, which is open 24 hours a day, replaces an area of the park previously used by dog owners but that featured no amenities for the owners or their four-legged friends. “This revitalized area of the park provides a welcoming place for patrons to bring their pets to safely run around and enjoy the park. This new amenity addresses a need within the community and will benefit all park patrons by offering a maintained and aesthetically pleasing area for dogs,” Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey said. Photo courtesy of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s office $575K upgrade to bring sidewalk to College Point’s MacNeil Park BY ALINA SURIEL asuriel@queenscourier.com @alinangelica They’ll soon be walking on solid ground around College Point’s MacNeil Park. State Senator Tony Avella allocated $575,000 for upgrades to the park, including the addition of a sidewalk around its perimeter. Avella announced the allocation on Aug. 28 at the park, where he was joined by members of the College Point Civic and Taxpayers Association and College Point residents. In addition to a perimeter sidewalk, the funds will be also be used to create a formalized entrance to the park and plant additional foliage. According to Avella, residents have been campaigning for the new sidewalk since he was a community activist in College Point. “This is a great resource but it’s never been given the attention it needs,” he said. “I’m happy that I was able to get money but it really shouldn’t be up to the state. This is a city park and the city should be putting some money into this.” While residents were happy to see incoming improvements to MacNeil Park, many complained of other issues which are long overdue for upgrades and city attention. Ongoing complaints included unmowed grass, loiterers bringing open containers of booze and smashing glass bottles, overflow from sewers and growing potholes on a walking path deteriorating along the sea wall. Avella was able to see some of these issues firsthand in a tour of the park. Resident Jennifer Shannon said that some of the potholes were big enough for a small child to climb inside. “From what he’s saying, it’s going to make the front of the park beautiful, and that’s great,” Shannon said. “But it’s not going to change what’s going on inside the park. We need the other money.” THE COURIER/Photo by Alina Suriel
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