FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com OCTOBER 6, 2016 • The Queens Courier 9 Sunnyside getting a new playground Following years of debate and speculation, a local councilman announced Monday that an abandoned Sunnyside playground will be purchased and renovated, much to the delight of neighborhood residents. After sitting vacant for around 30 years, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer of District 26 announced on Monday, Oct. 3, his allocation of $3 million to acquire and revamp Phipps Playground, preserving its legacy as one of the last depression-era playgrounds in the city. The playground-which sits at the corner of 39th Avenue and 50th Street-was originally built for the Phipps Gardens Apartments, an affordable housing development across the street, but was then purchased in 2007 by DBH & Associates, a development company. When DBH proposed a plan to develop the lot into residential units in 2013, they were met with fierce community backlash, which included Van Bramer, Community Board 2 and the Landmarks Preservation Committee, ultimately leading to the project being shut down. The $3 million, allocated in partnership with Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, will cover the costs of purchasing the property from DBH & Associates and renovating the abandoned playground. “I’m thrilled to have allocated this funding to turn this abandoned playground back into a beautiful green space that our whole community can enjoy,” said Van Bramer. “Community members have been advocating for this space to be turned into a public park for decades. Today, we are one step closer to making that dream a reality.” Liam Baker Internet market at Knockdown Center For the second time, the internet black market known as Yami-Ichi will be held at Knockdown Center on Nov. 6 from noon to 6 p.m., and organizers are hosting an open call for vendors through Thursday, Oct. 20, on a first-come firstserved basis. Yami-Ichi was first held at the 5,000-squarefoot former glass and door factories turned art center and event space last year as the internetthemed festival took place in the United States for the first time. The first year attracted 1,500 attendees and featured more than 130 vendors, catching the eye of The New York Times, Fusion, and Hyperallergic. Last year featured “glitch-embroidered clothing, an internet addiction clinic, and a viewing tent of Qanta Shimizu’s dad sleeping in Japan,” according to their press release. Vendors are asked to pay a $20 participation fee on account of this event being independently organized (and free!) and are to live by two rules: whatever you’re selling must be related to the internet, and anything unsafe or illegal is prohibited. The event is from noon to 6 p.m. Invite a friend that can watch your booth if you want to get something to eat or need the restroom. Cristin Noonan Photo courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation SAFE TRAVELS Narrower streets, new signs to make Whitestone park safer BY SU ZANNE MON TEVER DI [email protected]/@smont76 City officials hope signage and traffic improvements to the area surrounding a park in Whitestone will help keep pedestrians safer. The city Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Sept. 30 that new safety measures around Francis Lewis Park were implemented by personnel as part of a pedestrian safety project requested by Councilman Paul Vallone. Between the Whitestone Expressway service road and 147th Street, the DOT created a “visual narrowing” of the road along Third Avenue — adding lane stripes to indicate space for parking on both north and south sides of the street — in an effort to deter speeding. The DOT also constructed enhanced pedestrian crossings, adding signage and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian ramps. Personnel also installed a concrete curb extension at Third Avenue and 147th Street, adjusting the curb line and implementing an ADA pedestrian ramp. “The safety of our children, families and neighbors is always a priority,” Vallone said. “The enhancements installed by the DOT for Francis Lewis Park will go a long way towards improving the safety of everyone entering the park as well as reducing the speed of drivers coming down Third Avenue. Continuing to work with our civic organizations, community boards and the NYC DOT will be critical as we address traffic and pedestrian safety at popular locations throughout northeast Queens.” “We are delighted to implement these pedestrian safety improvements along Francis Lewis Park in Whitestone as part of Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative citywide,” DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia said. “Park users and pedestrians of all ages will benefit tremendously from the recently installed enhanced crossings and pedestrian ramps. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and collaboration with Council member Paul Vallone and Queens residents about ways to improve street safety in the borough.” DOT coordinated with the Department of Parks and Recreation to implement the plans. October 15 & 16 UNLIMI TED BEER TAS TI NGS TICKETS AVAILABLE AT QueensBeerFest.com LOCATED AT LIC FLEA & FOOD 5-25 46TH AVE. LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS
QC10062016
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