Leaf blowing blows!

"I wrote to you five years ago about a problem that we had with the constant use of leaf blowers at Maurice A. Fitzgerald Playground on Atlantic Avenue & 106 Street in Ozone Park. This is a situation that we’ve been trying to correct since 2003. Unfortunately, the problem not only still exists, but has gotten worse! Filing complaints via 311 have been completely useless.

A recent complaint that I filed about their daily usage (which, this year, started in April) elicited a letter from Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski in which she apologized “for the noise and inconvenience however, leaf blowers are a necessary tool”. “Inconvenience”??? How about a daily noisy nuisance that we are forced to endure for hours? Last year, they even used them on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving!! The Parks Dept. couldn’t have given us or their workers a break from this nonsense for even one day?? As for “necessary tool” leaf blowers are nothing if not inefficient and ineffective. In fact, leaf blowers were banned in parts of California back in 2013 because of the noise and air pollution that they produce, for their “trespass” in homes and the adverse effect they have on one’s health.

What’s crazy is that even in the rain workers are out there with the leaf blowers. At that point they become giant hair dryers that must dry the leaves before they can move them with the device. On top of that, even after being tormented for six hours with the noise, the storm drains around the park still aren’t cleaned. I guess that is better than last year when they blew all of the leaves from the sidewalk and curb across the street so that their job became ours. Better still is after they blow the leaves in a pile, they don’t collect them but leave the there for the wind to disperse them so that the cycle can start anew the next day!

To add to the insanity is the park’s workers using leaf blowers as toys. Last summer two workers were using them to play air hockey with a wadded-up lump of paper. Another sat on a park bench with her cell phone in one hand and a leaf blower in the other. She had it pointing skywards as it it were a Star Wars light saber and just sat there revving the damned engine while she texted.

We are forced to suffer many quality of life problems from the Maurice A. Fitzgerald Playground such as the constant aroma of pot, loud music from the cars that cruise or hang around the park, firecrackers shot off at night year-round and basketball at 4 AM (the park is kept open for our “benefit”)… The daily use of the leaf blowers is adding insult to injury and demonstrates a complete disregard for all of the park’s neighbors. The solution is very simple: stop using them NOW. Commissioner Lewandowski has the authority and obligation to make this happen. I’m certain that she wouldn’t want to be subjected to this daily abuse, so why the hell should we??

Parks are supposed to provide us a bit of relief from our daily stress, not add significantly to it. “inconvenience”? how dare you be so condescending to us, Ms. Lewandowski? The daily din from these leaf blowers is an unnecessary obtrusive aggravation. Their usage needs to be ceased. Use a rake and broom – and lock up the place at night!!!" - Karl

To tear it down or fix it up?

From the Daily News:

The city needs $52 million to save the New York State Pavilion and restore the deteriorating iconic ruin of the 1964-65 World’s Fair to its original glory, officials revealed Monday night.

But tearing it down would cost just $14 million.

Parks Department officials told outgoing Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, elected officials and community board leaders that they have not decided what to do with the structure, which includes the Tent of Tomorrow and three observation towers that have been shuttered for decades.

“They are in need of repair but they are not immediately falling down,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. “So we have time to have some really reasonable dialogue.”

Lewandowski said the city’s new report on the site includes several engineering studies and ambitious conceptual plan that could cost at least $72 million.

Other options include shoring up the site so it could remain as a ruin similar to the 19th century smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island for a cost of $43 million.

If we can pay $100M for Donald Trump's golf course, why can't we pay to restore the Pavilion? Or better yet, why not use the funds from Julissa's new Flushing Meadows conservancy to repair it?

FMCP to gets new volleyball courts - but still looks like crap

From Forest Hills Patch:

Flushing Meadow Corona Park will get some new volleyball courts this summer, and they're opening Tuesday!

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowsi will join Borough President Helen Marshall in the park Tuesday morning to celebrate the opening of the volleyball courts, which are the first on the Corona side of the park.

The money for the parks came from the discretionary budget of the borough president's office, and the courts cost a reported $450,000 to construct.

What the hell were they thinking?

Might want to grab your sunglasses before you head over to Doughboy Park in Woodside.

Mama Mia, what have they done to the place?

Is this really an appropriate color to paint a park, especially one dedicated to our country's fallen soldiers?

Seriously...Day-Glo Green? The only place this might look ok is a toddlers' playground.  This ain't a toddlers' playground.

SO, who thought this was a good idea?


Parks Commissioner Veronica White & Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski: I don't know who is responsible for doing this, but would you please take care of this before Memorial Day?

Additional photos available at George The Atheist's blog

Beach replenishment starting in June

From the Daily News:

The first extra dose of sand is coming this June to storm-worn sections of Rockaway’s beaches.

The most eroded sections between Beach 89th and Beach 149th Sts. will get 1 million cubic yards of sand dredged from the East Rockaway Inlet, officials said Tuesday.

“We know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working hard to bring sand to Rockaway,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. “We look forward to its arrival and will do everything we can to help get it in place as quickly and safely as possible.”

Portions of the beach will close while the sand is added.

Meanwhile, another 2.5 million cubic yards of sand is slated to beef up the entire beachfront from Beach 19th to Beach 149th streets. That project is not expected to start until August and could take between six and nine months to complete.

Bowne Park looking worse for wear

Hi Crappy,

I’m an enormous fan. Thank you for shining a light on the problems in this sorry, run-down borough.

I took these pictures at Bowne Park in Flushing this morning. The two dead turtles are about 10” and 15” in length. Look at how filthy the water is.

I walk my dog and pick up garbage with a number of friends at Bowne every morning. We have lately been seeing a lot of dead squirrels and turtles. The park is poorly maintained with rarely a Dept. of Parks presence. Please note today’s addition of a discarded mattress.

We’re all so pleased that the Dept. of Parks allocated 500K for an additional bocce court when they can’t even afford a minimum wage full-time employee!!! Could you please post these pictures and possibly embarrass the hell out of our local pols and the Parks Dept.?

Thank you so much.

Regards,

nycRed714


Follow up:

Hi Crappy -

I sent the two Bowne Park pix to Tony Avella and he wrote a letter
addressing the situation on the same day! He's just an amazingly great guy!

Regards,

nycRed714

Bowne Park letter

New operator for Caffe on the Green

From the Queens Courier:

Patrizia’s of Bayside, the former site of Caffe on the Green and Valentino’s on the Green, has found a new operator, according to Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.

“We are very excited that a new concessionaire will be operating the former Valentino’s on the Green and look forward to the reopening,” said Lewandowski.

The new operator, 123 Restaurant Group is owned by George Makkos and Paul Nicaji. the pair who run the successful Battery Gardens restaurant in Battery Park. Makkos is also the operator of Terrace on the Park, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Boardwalk repair plans in place

From the Daily News:

[Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski] outlined a three-phase plan: clean up, “safe up” and open up the shoreline ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.

While only portions of the boardwalk remain, Lewandowski promised the same number of lifeguards will be assigned to Rockaway beaches.

Dangerous sections of the battered walkway are being fenced off and dismantled. When that work is done, beachgoers will access the sand through “breezeways” every few blocks.

The city is planning to create boardwalk “islands” around comfort stations, park offices and popular concession stands.

The concessions feature an eclectic variety of food and have been a major draw in recent years, luring new crowds to Rockaway.

Sections of the boardwalk from Beach 9th to 35th Sts. and from Beach 40th to 60th Sts. are in relatively good shape and will be open this summer, she said.

Beach 60th to 68th Sts. will be closed off. The city is considering leaving a remnant of the displaced boardwalk in the area of Beach 68th to 74th Sts. as a sort of natural work of art.

The section between Beach 80th to 86th Sts. held up well, she said. But the boardwalk from Beach 86th to 126th Sts. was either blown off the concrete pilings by the storm or ruined beyond repair.

In addition, play equipment including the skate park and handball courts were destroyed or damaged in the area of Beach 88th to 109th Sts.

Macneil Park getting kayak launch

From the Times Ledger:

The kayak launch at MacNeil Park is on the horizon, the Queens Parks commissioner said at last week’s College Point Civic meeting, meaning residents may soon be able to take to the open waters with their self-propelled vessels.

“I think we are relatively close on this,” said Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, referring to the proposed launch at the group’s monthly gathering at The Poppenhusen Institute, at 114-04 14th Road.

The community has sought a sandy launching point at the park for years, and though the project is on its way to becoming a reality, there are a few more hurdles to clear before residents can take to the water.

The department is still seeking a private partner to help run and maintain the launch, Lewandowski said, and until that happens it will remain firmly on the drawing board.

According to civic members, the plans do not yet include a shed or rental program, but the neighborhood would like to see one in the future.

Alley Pond playground reopens after fire

From Bayside Patch:

The Alley Pond Park playground reopened late last week after having been shuttered in September due to an apparent act of arson.

Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, who obtained funds to repair the playground, joined Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski and local leaders Friday to reopen the site.

A total $175,000 was spent to replace the playground equipment, which was damaged during an overnight fire on Sept. 28.

City Department of Parks and Recreation officials believe that the fire was an act of arson, but no arrests have been made in the incident.

Rockaway boardwalk repairs begin

From the Daily News:

With the start of beach season just two weeks away, workers are busy repairing storm-ravaged sections of the boardwalk in Rockaway.

The damage dates back to August when Hurricane Irene blew through the Rockaways, tearing away planks of the wooden walkway and ripping apart adjacent park fencing.

The powerful storm surge pushed out fascia boards that run under the boardwalk, allowing water and sand to pour out into Shore Front Parkway.

The $3.8 million rebuilding project will continue through the start of the season, said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.

Astoria Pool diving board: Asset or eyesore?

From the NY Times:

Astoria, Queens, is about to get its first outdoor amphitheater, situated where an Art Deco diving pool, built in the 1930s, fell into disuse decades ago. Plans call for filling the pool, at Astoria Park, with concrete to make way for the performance space, but the pool complex has been declared a landmark, a designation that means any changes would require a review by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. Accordingly, there are a few things that probably will not change: namely, the triple-tiered Bauhaus-style diving board.

That will most likely remain, smack in the middle of downstage, posing quite a challenge to set designers.

Dorothy Lewandowski, the Queens parks commissioner, said demolishing the diving board was never considered. “We’re not looking to create a Lincoln Center; we’re paying tribute to what was once there before, and create a new adaptive use,” she said.

Not everyone sees it that way. “Having a diving board facing the majority of your audience in a center stage position is untenable,” said Melanie Joseph, the founding and artistic director of the Foundry Theater, who has staged performances in such unconventional settings as a tour bus. “The strongest place onstage is center stage, and you don’t have that as a playing area,” she said.

In theory, the Landmarks Preservation Commission could still approve a plan to remove the diving board, if one were submitted, said Elisabeth de Bourbon, a spokeswoman for the commission.

Parks hopes to replace trees on the cheap

From the Times Ledger:

Nearly three months after a microburst decimated McDonald Park in Forest Hills, the once-shady green space has remained nearly treeless, but the city has a plan.

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said the city Parks Department will partner with a nonprofit hopefully to replace the trees by next spring.

“We have been reaching out with different organizations to help with donations for park trees,” she said.

One group that responded was the New York Restoration Project, which will visit the park along with department officials Jan. 7 to assess the damage and devise a plan to replace the trees.

In McDonald Park, 58 trees were destroyed by the storm, and many of them were little-leaf lindens, which gave the park its character, according to Lewandowski.

“They are very nice, ornamental trees that would flower or fruit at different times of the year,” she said, “and would give the park that little extra spark.”

The trees have not been replaced yet because the city focuses on street trees before it deals with foliage in the park. In addition, money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides aid in the aftermath of disasters, does not cover trees. And the large plants are not cheap.

The city shops for the replacements in nurseries throughout the tri-state area, where one tree can end up costing anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on its size, age and how it is planted.

If the city has to hire contractors to install the trees, as it does with street trees, the cost will increase. But if residents volunteer to help plant the trees, the process becomes much cheaper.

Locals want donation used to restore carousel

From the Daily News:

LOCAL residents are calling on city parks officials to earmark donated cash from a Forest Park film shoot for the shuttered, historic carousel.

Crews filming the "The Sitter" took over the park and the carousel in recent weeks to shoot scenes for the comedy.

A spokesman for 20th Century Fox, the film's production company, said it made a "substantial" donation to Forest Park.

Both the film company and the Parks Department have refused to disclose the amount.

The carousel, called priceless by experts, has been closed for two years while the Parks Department searches for someone interested in operating it as a concession. It was crafted more than 100 years ago by Daniel Carl Muller, considered a master woodcarver of the genre.

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski pointed out that the crews also filmed at other locations in the park.

"I understand people's concerns for the carousel, but that donation is for use of the park," she said. "The movie crews did some cleaning and repair work to the carousel and the concession stand. You have to consider that an in-kind donation."

Parks still building Elmhurst Park

From the Times Newsweekly:

More than a decade ago, while the Elmhurst gas tanks still towered over the neighborhood, it was hard for most people to imagine that the structures would one day be replaced by a park filled with rolling hills and winding paths.

But today, what was once inconceivable to many residents is inching closer toward becoming a reality, as the Parks Department continues its development of the six-acre site located off the corner of Grand Avenue and 79th Street into a passive park long sought by the community.

Currently in the second of three phases, the project is still several months away from completion, as contractors continue to create a playground and install various amenities including sprinkler equipment, lampposts and asphalt pathways.

Though it currently looks more like a construction site than a park, the Parks Department’s Queens commissioner, Dorothy Lewandowski, indicated that a large portion of the $20 million park will be ready and open to the public sometime next year, on budget and near schedule.

Stop work order for Ridgewood Reservoir?

From the Times Newsweekly:

The co-chair of Community Board 5’s Parks Committee announced during the panel’s May 24 meeting at Principe Park in Maspeth that he would seek a stop work order barring the start of the first phase of the renovations to the Ridgewood Reservoir.

Steven Fiedler told attendees that the panel would seek to halt plans by the Parks Department to install new lighting and fencing around the perimeter of the 55-acre site on the Brooklyn/Queens border, which the city plans to transform along with adjacent Highland Park into a new regional park.

According to Fiedler, the main point of contention centers around the proposed installation of a 4’-high fence surrounding the site, which he charged would not be tall enough to keep potential vandals and other trespassers out of the basins. Reportedly, the work would also require the removal of several trees.

Concerns about the height of the fencing were brought to the attention of Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, but Fiedler charged that his opinions were not well received.

“She won’t listen and she catches an attitude,” he claimed regarding his past attempts to reach out to Lewandowski about his gripes with the project, which is scheduled to commence in the fall.

The Parks Department is reportedly in the process of receiving bids for phase one work, which would include the installation of stairs and an ADA-compliant ramp.

Dottie's dam deception

From Save Ridgewood Reservoir, re: a recent "Parks Roundtable" held at the Queens Civic Congress:

David Quintana was called on and asked Ms. Lewandowski why she was not being straightforward about the Parks Dept's plan to cut down about 100 mature trees during phase 1 which is scheduled to start this Fall. That's right - 65 trees will be removed around the edge of the basins and 35 near the Jackie Robinson Parkway to allow for a handicapped entrance. [Dorothy] replied that the trees being cut down were more like weeds that had implanted themselves in the walls of the basins and would have to be removed anyway. She said that a forester was consulted and approved the removal of each tree.

Quintana pressed on about the DEC possibly declaring the area as a wetland. Lewandowski replied that the DEC has not declared it a wetland because they would have to consider each basin individually and that each basin is not large enough to be designated. She claimed those are the rules and expressed confidence that the reservoir will not be declared a wetland for that reason showing no concern whatsoever about the diverse life found within the basins.

Later on, Henry Euler asked about whether budget cuts would affect the plans for phase 1. She responded that the money was still there for phase 1 and again said that the Parks Dept planned to move ahead with it in coming months. She said they were also ready to present their 3 plans for phase 2 to the Community Boards, but that the DEC stepped in and said they were investigating whether the reservoir could be classified as a dam and not a wetland. She claimed that if the DEC does classify the reservoir as a dam, then all three basins would have to be denuded of vegetation in order to prepare them to receive water again. She claimed that Parks is working hard to ensure that doesn't happen.

Her entire explanation made no sense and does not jibe with the statements that DEC released to the press when asked about the issue. Two attendees sitting in front of me turned around and suggested that she had been making these things up as she went along.

From the DEC's website:

To be protected under the Freshwater Wetlands Act, a wetland must be 12.4 acres (5 hectares or larger). Wetlands smaller than this may be protected if they are considered of unusual local importance. Around every wetland is an 'adjacent area' of 100 feet that is also regulated to provide protection for the wetland.

The basin they want to develop is 21 acres. But even if it were below 12.4 acres, surely it has enough 'unusual local importance' to meet the alternate criteria.

As for the "dam"... the reservoir never dammed up anything. The water was pumped there from the east, uphill, and held there for consumption. There was no natural stream that had to be held back to prevent flooding.

THE BASINS ARE AT THE TOP OF A TERMINAL MORAINE.

Nice try, though.

DEC may throw monkey wrench into City's reservoir plan

From the Queens Ledger:

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is considering classifying the Ridgewood Reservoir a state-regulated freshwater wetlands, this paper has learned.

The designation would subject the city's planned redevelopment of the reservoir to a state review, and would set the stage for a possible confrontation over the site with the Bloomberg Administration.

The city is planning a $26 million project that would convert part of the three-basin reservoir into a recreation area, despite objections from residents who want the site protected as a natural preserve.

Thomas Panzone, a DEC spokesperson, confirmed the state is eyeing the 160-year-old reservoir, which was decommissioned in 1989 and has reverted back into unkempt parkland.

“DEC is reviewing whether or not the Ridgewood Reservoir should be classified as a state-regulated freshwater wetland,” Panzone said in an email. If that happens any planned changes to the site would be subject to review by the state, and could require a permit under the state's Freshwater Wetland regulations, he said.

The full implications of a wetlands designation on the city's plans for the reservoir remain unclear. But someone with knowledge of the negotiations between the city and state said the DEC's interest has complicated the city's efforts to remake the reservoir.

The city is planning to start phase one work - to upgrade lights and fencing around the reservoir and rebuild a pathway between the second and third basins - this fall.

But the thought of complex wetlands regulations has raised concerns inside the Parks Department over its phase two plans to replace part of the third basin with an active recreation area. The work could prove difficult if the site were protected.

While this is welcome news, I am confused about something. Back in January, the Parks Department said they were going to release 3 plans for the reservoir by early March and receive public input on them. So why were they going to the DEC for approval for "its phase two plans to replace part of the third basin with an active recreation area"???

Adrian and Dottie - you've been BUSTED!!!!

Fountain fixed; to stay turned off

From the Queens Chronicle:

Just in time for summer, the fountain surrounding the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park is scheduled to be turned on at the end of May, following $1.4 million in repairs.

The site has been closed since September to repair underground pumps that have been problematic for years. Dorothy Lewandowski, Queens Parks commissioner, said the aim is to fix the problem and make the fountain fully functional.
The current plan also calls for restoring the pipes and fixing the fountain heads. Funds are being supplied through the Mayor’s Office and Queens Borough President’s Office.

In the last few years, the fountain has been turned on only sporadically, partly as a water conservation measure but primarily due to the leaking. Lewandowski said it is costly to keep it on, but it definitely will be activated for special events.

So we spent $1.4M to fix it and it will still only be turned on during the U.S. Open? You've got to be fucking kidding.

Rolling up the green carpet

From the Daily News:

The New York City Soccer Officials Association is boycotting four of nine fields at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park because of gaping tears in artificial turf, holes full of standing water and dangerous divots in the ground.

"We refuse to referee games on those fields," said Alan Wharton, president of the association. "It's a liability issue for us."

The group officiates Public School Athletic League games, as well as private school, college and club games. Without the referees, games cannot be scheduled on fields 1, 4, 5 or 6, leaving just four open for the northern Queens teams that compete at the park. The ninth field is a nonregulation- size children's field.

"They are not playable," said Bob Sprance, varsity girls coach at Forest Hills High School. "They must be repaired before somebody gets seriously hurt."

Fields 1 and 5 are artificial turf, and each has several tears and ripped seams. The other two are dirt fields and are littered with bottle caps, glass and rocks.

"I go out with giant cones to mark the spots that the girls need to be aware of," said Keith Horan, varsity coach at the High School for Arts and Business in Corona. "It's plain dangerous."

His school is one of several that practice and play games there because it doesn't have its own field. The park fields are often filled from dawn to dusk.

The Parks Department has not received a complaint from the NYCSOA, said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. She said it could cost up to $500,000 to replace a synthetic field, depending on its size.

"Even though you try to regulate play through permits, there's such a demand for soccer in that area," she said, adding that there are 42 leagues with permits to play in the park - all of which agree to not wear metal spikes.