18 The Queens Courier • DECEMBER 12, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com SKIES TO GET QUIETER BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com The skies over Queens and the rest of the country may soon be quieter. Congressmember Joe Crowley gathered with state and local elected officials, advocates and community members to announce the introduction of the Silent Skies Act bill that will work to alleviate airplane noise pollution in neighborhoods surrounding the two major airports in Queens. The new legislation will require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement regulations by the end of 2015 demanding commercial aircraft to go from Stage 3 noise standards to Stage 4 noise standards, reducing the sound by 10 decibels. “Airports can never be perfect neighbors, but we can take steps to make them better neighbors,” said Crowley. “While commercial aircraft can never be truly silent, we can make sure they are less disruptive to the families who live nearby and improve the quality of life in our communities, not just here in Queens but throughout the country.” Advocates for the reduction of airplane noise say the loud engines disrupt sleep, distract students and drown out the noise of everyday life. Although the FAA issued regulations that required all new commercial aircraft designs to meet these new noise standards, the newly introduced legislation would also have the FAA phase out older and louder aircraft. Local and state officials announced new legislation in Congress that will require the FAA to issue regulations by the end of 2015 reducing commercial airplane noise. The Silent Skies Act would force the FAA to require quieter engines for 25 percent of each airline’s planes every five years, with all commercial airlines meeting the new noise standards by 2035. “Recent changes in flight procedures have caused constant, intolerable noise in wide area of our New York/New Jersey metro area,” said Janet McEneaney, president of Queens Quiet Skies. “For too long, the interests of residents here were not considered when aviation procedures were planned.” The new bill, if passed, would also encourage the research and development of quieter engine technologies by authorizing a new grant program. THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano Hundreds of residents in northeast Queens have pushed for noise control after last December’s FAA approval of a new flight pattern which directed a large number of low-flying planes over their neighborhoods. “Silent skies should not just be for first class passengers,” said Crowley. The FAA said it does not comment on proposed legislation. The number of people in the United States who are subjected to significant aircraft noise has dropped by 90 percent since 1975, according to the FAA. This decrease is due to mainly reductions in aircraft noise and phase-outs of older, noisier planes. Astoria park to get upgrades BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com After nearly two decades, one Astoria park is getting some much needed renovation. Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. gathered with Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, other local elected officials and community leaders on December 3 to announce the allocation of $800,000 for the upcoming improvements to Paul Raimonda Playground, located at 47th Street and 20th Avenue. Funds for the last major renovation to the playground were allocated in 1995 by the councilmember’s father, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. “Not only will this improve the safety of the park and add things like an adult exercise station, but it will reflect the neighborhood’s unique history with a piano sprinkler,” said Vallone. The renovations will begin in the fall of 2014, in two phases. Phase one consists of replacing the bocce court with fitness equipment, a new spray shower shaped like a Steinway piano, new Photo Courtesy Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.’s Office Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. announced the allocation of $800,000 in renovations for Paul Raimonda Playground in Astoria, including a new spray shower shaped like a Steinway piano. benches, safety surfaces, asphalt replacement, and flagpole reconstruction. Phase two includes new play equipment, painted games, gate repair and resealing of the basketball court. Vallone said he also plans on advocating for a United States map to be painted on the ground of the playground, resembling one in an eastern Queens playground he and his children used to play on. “Our parks have always been a priority of mine,” said Vallone. “I’m glad they will continue even after I leave office.” WRBA hosts QueensWay forum BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com New ideas are flowing in for the abandoned Rockaway Beach rail line. The Woodhaven Residents Block Assocation (WRBA) hosted what attendees are calling the truest public forum held thus far regarding the QueensWay and Rockaway Beach line. Advocates for the proposed 3.5-mile QueensWay park along the abandoned rail line addressed those with reservations about the project, and vice versa, on Monday, December 9 in Woodhaven. Ed Wendell, WRBA President, brought a new idea to the table. He said the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway that currently runs through Forest Park has been “a problem for 20 years,” and QueensWay officials should use this space as their “lab experiment.” “Why don’t we focus on cleaning up the existing greenway,” he asked. “Show us what you can do, and the community will be much more receptive.” Alexander Blenkinsopp, WRBA member, called this idea “brilliant,” and offered an additional option for “each community to decide what they want done with their stretch of the tracks.” The old rail line runs up 98th Street from the Rockaways to Manhattan. “If the people of Forest Hills really want the QueensWay, let them have it in their neighborhood,” he said. “And if it’s so wonderful, the residents of Woodhaven will see how great it is in Forest Hills and will eventually welcome it into their community as well.” Wendell echoed many people when he said one main concern to address before moving forward with building a new park is security in existing greenspaces, such as Forest Park. “We see women jogging in the morning using flashlights,” Wendell said. “How terrifying is that? That they have to do this.” He said that park officials, as well as cops in the 102nd Precinct should be given proper resources to patrol the park before more acres are added via the QueensWay, which would connect to Forest Park. A feasibility study to determine the possibility of creating the new park is currently underway, and QueensWay supporters noted it is “just a study” and “there really is no plan yet.” “Any proposals that come back are going to have to take into account a lot of people’s concerns,” Wendell said. “There are a whole lot of emotions and feelings on it.” FILE PHOTO The Woodhaven Residents Block Association hosted a public forum at which residents spoke about the proposed QueensWay park and the abandoned Rockaway Beach rail line.
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