5
QUEENS WEEKLY, MAY 19, 2019
City celebrates completion of new Cunningham Park
performance space and picnic area in Fresh Meadows
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Councilman Barry Grodenchik
and state Senator
John Liu joined Queens
Borough Parks Commissioner
Michael Dockett and
Borough President Melinda
Katz on May 10 to celebrate
the reconstructed performance
space and picnic
area in Fresh Meadows’
Cunningham Park with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Cunningham Park offers
everything from ballfields
to biking paths,” said
Dockett. “We’re thrilled to
have upgraded this picnic
area, so that now visitors
can enjoy a better space to
grab a bite in-between activities,
or catch a puppet
show at our new performance
space. Many thanks
to Borough President Katz
and Council member Grodenchik
for their support of
this treasured green space
in eastern Queens.”
The $2.6 million dollar
project reconstructed
the picnic area in Cunningham
Park with new
barbecue grills, accessible
picnic tables, paving,
landscaping and
plantings to enhance
the area.
The walking oval,
which was previously deteriorated,
has been fully
reconstructed with new
fitness equipment and mile
markers along the pathway.
Several staircases
were also reconstructed
for safe access. The performance
space, sometimes
used as an outdoor classroom,
was updated to be
an area of intimate performances
and a variety of
outdoor activities.
The project was funded
by allocations from the City
Council ($875,000); Katz
($1,175 million); and Mayor
Bill de Blasio for a total of
$2.6 million. Construction
of the performance space
and picnic area began in
June 2017 and it was reopened
to the public in September
2018.
Grodenchik thanked
Katz and de Blasio for their
contribution to the projects
at the park.
“It is a great pleasure
to join Queens Borough
Melinda Katz, state Senator
John Liu, and Queens
Parks Commissioner Michael
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Dockett to cut the
ribbon on the performance
space and reconstructed
picnic area in Cunningham
Park,” said Grodenchik.
“These long-awaited
amenities only enhance
what is already a worldclass
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park.”
Katz said the improvements
at Cunningham
Park will greatly enhance
the experience of
park visitors.
“The reconstructed
picnic area, performance
space and walking oval
will make Cunningham
Park an even more attractive
place for families to
see a show, enjoy a picnic
and get some exercise in
the fresh air,” said Katz.
Liu said he hopes this
will be the first of many
groundbreaking and ribbon
cutting celebrations
to come in northeastern
Queens parks.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by email at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4526.
Councilman Barry Grodenchik and state Sen. John Liu joined Queens Borough Parks
Commissioner Michael Dockett and Borough President Melinda Katz on May 10 for a ribboncutting
ceremony at Cunningham Park. Photo via Twitter/City Council member Barry Grodenchik
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