FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com DECEMBER 10, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 11 Community disputes Maspeth’s Frank Principe Park initial redesign BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport This is no fi eld of dreams. Residents and members of local sports organizations were torn over the Parks Department’s initial renderings for the redesign of the ballfi elds at Maspeth’s Frank Principe Park presented during a visioning session held on Wednesday night at Maspeth Town Hall. The Parks Department used feedback they gathered during a visioning session held earlier this year on what community members wanted to see at the newly constructed ballfi elds. Some of the most requested features were a full-size soccer fi eld as well as keeping two ballfi elds for little league and softball. “We have a preliminary design, and that is the reason I wanted to come in here while the questions started to be asked because this is not in stone,” Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley said. “And that’s why we are having this meeting, because your input will help fi nalize the design.” The Parks Department’s The Parks Department presented their initial design for the reconstruction of the ballfi elds at Frank Principe Park. rendering would place the soccer fi eld on the western part of the park and two little league and softball fi elds on the eastern portion. This confi guration raised concerns over the safety of players on both the soccer fi eld and ballfi elds, as there is a chance of overlapping play and interference. “How can you put the backstops on the outside and tell me no softballs will go into the soccer fi elds and how can you tell me no soccer balls will go into the baseball fi elds with no fences there?” asked Steve Fiedler, chair of Community Board 5 Parks Committee. “I understand the concept, but it’s just not reality.” Courtesy Parks Dept. Fielder brought his own rendering of the ballfi elds where the softball fi elds would face away from the soccer fi eld, practically eliminating any chance for interference. “This is a conceptual design of having all sports being played at the same time and not interfering with the other ones,” Fiedler explained. “I believe it would cost more money … but here you could have three games going on with two different sports and have minimal interference.” Although Fiedler’s design could prevent interference between the soccer and softball fi elds, an architect in attendance said it could potentially lead to balls exiting the park altogether, putting nearby pedestrians and cars at risk. “From home plate to the edge of the ballfi eld is about 130 feet. A ball hit 300 feet is going to be just playing tag with cars on the expressway,” said Peter Crawford, landscape architect for Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP. “The ball trajectory is still going to be going up at the point of the fence. You’d need an 80-foot high fence.” The Parks Department will take the comments from the visioning session and for further consideration in the fi nal design plan. “We just want to make sure that, because it’s such a signifi cant investment, nearly $6 million, I want to make sure that we get the design that is best for the community,” Crowley added. “We may be there, but I’m not sure of that. From tonight’s meeting we’ll be able to gather your thoughts.” Great rates like ours are always in season. 18-Month CD 1.15%APY* At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, an offer like this can’t last forever. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. $5,000 minimum deposit * New money only. APY effective September 23, 2015. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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