Apr. 29, 2025 By Czarinna Andres Over 200 runners, walkers, and environmental advocates gathered on Saturday, April 27, to celebrate Earth Day with State Senator John Liu during a lively 5K Fun Run along the historic Long Island Motor Parkway, a route that once served as one of the nation’s earliest highways but now…
Jan. 9, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan The same year that William Nieter began teaching at St. John’s University in 1976, a group of environmentally minded community members opened the original Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard. Almost five decades later, with the surrounding park and its center unrecognizable from the early days, the idea to…
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Dec. 7, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Following decades-long careers in the NYC Parks Dept., two retirees are continuing to express their love for the city’s nature enclaves by getting their hands dirty as volunteers. Michael Feller, a chief naturalist for NYC Parks for over 30 years, says he knew he wanted to work in nature…
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Dec. 4, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan After 17 years and a $28 million investment, Alley Pond Park cut the ribbon on its brand new environmental center in Douglaston on Monday, Dec. 4. The grand opening at the new building on Northern Boulevard drew more than a dozen elected officials, as well as NYC Parks Department employees and local residents. After a three-song performance from the chorus group at Marie Curie Middle School and a slew of remarks from those who cherish the nature preserve, officials cut a piece of biodegradable green tape with mini scissors to officially mark the completion…
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Apr. 28, 2023 By Ethan Marshall The Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) held its annual Green Gala Wednesday, April 26, at Terrace on the Park. During the gala, APEC honored three individuals — Mark Weprin, Walter Mugdan and Patricia Ornst — for their environmental work. Several Queens leaders were on hand at the gala, with…
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