6 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 30, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Parks completes $1.8M makeover of Doughboy Park in Woodside
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Taking a break from his whirlwind
farewell tour of western Queens
community organizations and cultural
institutions, outgoing Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer joined offi cials from
NYC Parks on Dec. 16 to cut the ribbon
on the newly reconstructed
$1.8 million plaza and seating
area at Doughboy Park in the
heart of Woodside.
Work involved the reconstruction
of the existing
memorial wall, which
included the re-setting of
the 9-11 Memorial Plaque,
and the installation of new
granite veneer facing and
bluestone coping.
Th e plaza was repaved
with new bluestone pavement
and includes new
benches to provide ample
seating. Th e fl agpole was reconstructed
and the World War I
memorial stone tablets were relocated
within a planting bed around
the Doughboy statue.
The reconstruction project
was a priority for longtime
Woodside Civic Association
President Ed Bergendahl, a
Korean War veteran who
passed away in 2018.
Bergendahl would preside
over the annual Sept. 11
remembrance events at
Doughboy Park reminding
all who attended
that Woodside’s
ZIP code has the
largest representation of
those that died on 9/11
and during the Vietnam
War.
“Doughboy Plaza is a
sacred place that is now
in the beautiful condition
it rightfully deserves,” Van
Bramer said. “I funded this
project at the request of the
late Ed Bergendahl, a veteran
who knew how important
this space is to the community,
and I am thrilled that aft er
the restoration and improvements
it is open once again for
the public to enjoy.”
The park
is tucked
behind P.S.
11, on the
Photos courtesy of NYC Parks/Daniel Avila
corner of Woodside Avenue between
54th and 56th streets, where soldiers
gathered at the “mustering ground”
before departing to fight in World
War I.
The Returning Soldier, later dubbed
the Woodside Doughboy, was a
monument erected at the site in 1923
by the Woodside Community Council
in remembrance of the local men
and women who served in World
War I.
The Woodside Doughboy is one of
eight such statues erected in New York
City parks.
“Woodside’s Doughboy Park now has
a brand new bluestone plaza, making it
a worthy space to recognize and honor
all of the soldiers who gave their lives
in service to their country,” Queens
Borough Parks Commissioner Michael
Dockett said. “We are thrilled that this
project was completed in time for the
community to enjoy it over the fall
season, and we’re grateful to Council
member Van Bramer for his support
on this transformative project.”
The park also has new landscaping
with new trees, shrubs and new stair
access to the upper dog run area.
The city completed a $1.8 million makeover of Doughboy Park in Woodside.
Elected and city offi cials cut the ribbon on the newly completed $1.8 million makeover of Doughboy Park in Woodside.
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