The L/CPL Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Playground Dog Run and seating area is a long-awaited welcome to the Woodside community. Photo by Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Aug. 21, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan
On Monday, Aug. 19, Council Member Julie Won and officials from NYC Parks cut the ribbon on two new parks in Woodside and Maspeth just an hour apart.
The recently completed L/CPL Thomas P. Noonan Playground Dog Run, at 42nd Street and Greenpoint Avenue in Woodside, was one that local residents had been pushing for since before Won took office in 2022.
Members of the Friends of Noonan Park Dog Run asked former City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer to build the space out of a need for more dog-friendly recreational spots in the area. He was able to secure $2.5 million in Mayoral funding to complete this project.
When Won took over the district, she took the project to completion and fulfilled the community’s expectations in coordination with NYC Parks.
Officials gathered to deliver remarks and cut the ribbon on Monday. Photo by Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Noonan Playground Dog Run now includes a new dog run, a seating area with new plantings, benches and lighting. There is also a water filling station, doggie bag dispenser and a tall fence to prevent dogs from escaping.
“Friends of Noonan Park Dog Run would like to express our immense appreciation to Council Member Julie Won and former Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer for giving us Noonan Park Dog Run. Parks did a fantastic job; everyone who sees it says what a beautiful dog run it is,” said Christine Coulombe, President of Friends of Noonan Park Dog Run.
Coulombe also recounted that one woman at the dog run told her that even on the days she doesn’t plan to go to the dog run, her dog ends up dragging her every day. “The dogs LOVE Noonan Park Dog Run, as do we.”
Just over a mile away, officials unveiled western Maspeth’s first park. It is located right next to the Kosciuszko Bridge at 43rd Street and 54th Road at the border of Sunnyside. The park was previously used as a staging area during construction of the bridge, and opened to the public in Oct. 2023.
Maspeth Park is the first park to open in western Maspeth and features several recreational sections. Photo courtesy of Julie Won’s office
The new amenities for local residents include picnic tables, game tables, a basketball court, adult fitness equipment and a skate park. A new sidewalk outside the park leading to the Kosciuszko Bridge’s bicycle and pedestrian path was also part of the project.
“The new Noonan Playground Dog Run and Maspeth Park give our neighbors access to safe, beautiful and local outdoor spaces. I’m thrilled to celebrate the opening of these long-awaited parks, which would not be possible without our combined advocacy with the community,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Parks and green spaces are crucial for our neighbors’ health, vitality and happiness.”
The two long-awaited projects cost a combined total of $20.3 million. The Noonan Playground was funded with $2.5 million from the Mayor’s office. Maspeth Park was allocated $17.8 million from the New York State Department of Transportation.
“Attractive, modern parks are crucial for enhancing the livability of New York City’s communities, as they provide vibrant and accessible spaces,” said Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Jacqueline Langsam, who attended the ribbon cuttings.
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