Tag: nyc-parks

CM Julie Won calls on city to restore Queensbridge open space as part of OneLIC plan

May 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Council Member Julie Won has joined Queensbridge Houses residents to call on the city to convert roughly 370,000 of city-owned space into publicly-accessible community space as part of the OneLIC neighborhood plan. Won has called on the city to include sites owned by the Department of Transportation and Parks… Read more »

Central Astoria announces full summer lineup in Astoria Park despite Great Lawn closure

May 15, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The Central Astoria Local Development Coalition has announced a full schedule of free summer programming, including fireworks, concerts, and outdoor movie nights— despite ongoing renovations that have rendered Astoria Park’s iconic Great Lawn inaccessible. Central Astoria, a long-standing nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enriching the Astoria community, will kick… Read more »

Socrates Sculpture Park continues to evolve as a community hub for art, nature and renewal

Entrance to Socrates Sculpture Park on Vernon Boulevard featuring the park's "Broadway Billboard." Photo: Shane O'Brien.

May 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien On any given morning, Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria hums with energy—artists welding steel, neighbors walking their dogs, and visitors pausing to admire large-scale artworks taking shape before their eyes. Located at 32-01 Vernon Blvd. along the East River, the 6.25-acre waterfront park is unlike any other green space… Read more »

Court Square fountain removed as part of planned renovations to Court Square Park

The Court Square Park fountain is removed as part of planned renovation work. Photo courtesy of Iztvan Ritz.

May 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The Parks Department has removed a fountain in Court Square Park as part of planned renovation work, just one week after hundreds of local residents signed a petition calling for its preservation. The fountain was removed on Thursday as part of a planned $4 million development first outlined in 2019…. Read more »

NYC Parks to host Black History Month events across Queens, celebrating pioneers in STEM and space

Jan. 31, 2025 By Shane O’Brien NYC Parks will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events across Queens, featuring oyster workshops, explorations of Black pioneers in STEM, and discussions on Black history in space exploration. Educational and cultural programs honoring Black history will be held throughout February and March across all five boroughs,… Read more »

Long Island City’s Hunter’s Point South Park named one of NYC’s best parks

Jan. 28, 2025 By Shane O’Brien  Hunter’s Point South Park has been named among the best parks in New York City, according to a new NYC Parks initiative aiming to improve greenspaces across the city and provide New Yorkers with information about the city’s parks. Vital Parks for All, a $3.2 billion vision for improving… Read more »

Flushing Bay’s temporary docks to shut down, leaving dragon-boating community adrift

docks

Jan. 6, 2025 By Shane O’Brien In a blow to Queens’ vibrant dragon-boating community, NYC Parks has announced that the temporary docks at Flushing Bay’s World’s Fair Marina, a hub for the centuries-old sport, will close indefinitely starting in May 2025. Dragon-boating, an ancient Chinese team sport featuring large canoe-like boats adorned with dragon…

Queens parks host family-friendly holiday events between Christmas and New Year’s

Large globe against sky at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Dec. 23, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Queens families looking for festive and educational holiday fun need look no further than their local parks. NYC Parks is hosting a variety of family-friendly events throughout the borough this holiday season, ranging from nature-themed activities to puppet shows. These events, held in collaboration with the Urban Park…

Queens leaders celebrate opening of new $3.8M playground in Cunningham Park with ribbon-cutting

210th street

Dec. 10, 2024 By Ethan Marshall Several Queens community leaders and members gathered at Cunningham Park on Monday, Dec. 9, to mark the opening of the reconstructed 21oth Street playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Among those on hand to celebrate the completion of this project were Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, New York City Council…