Vallone Announces Start of Crocheron Park Baseball Field Construction
City Council Member Paul Vallone (D-Alley Pond Park, Bay Terrace, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, East Elmhurst, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Little Neck, Whitestone) announced yesterday that the long-awaited baseball field renovation at Crocheron Park at 215th Street and 35th Avenue is on its way.
Vallone said the Parks Department plans to begin construction on the field after July 4th so that the Bayside Little League, which is set to start in a few weeks, will be able to complete their season.
The one-year project will reconstruct the southwest ballfield, known as Field 3, and will include both a new infield with a clay and sand mixture and an outfield with topsoil and natural turf. Grading issues, including the steep existing outfield, will be corrected and existing fences will be repaired or replaced along the entire perimeter of the field.
Additionally, new access gates will be installed and paths and dugouts will be made accessible and furnished with new benches, backrests and arms. The park will also receive a new section of bleachers, bottle filler drinking fountains, and manual irrigation system.
Lastly, the existing dugout gate at Field 2 will be removed and replaced with bollards to make the field open and accessible, and new canopy and understory trees will be planted on the site margins to add shade and replace previously removed trees.
“Baseball will always be our national pastime and I’m proud to work with our Parks Department to build our kids the field they deserve and give them a taste of what it’s like to play on a bigger stage,” said Vallone. “The major upgrades to this field will ensure that future generations of little leaguers will be able to enjoy it for years to come, and I look forward to kicking off the first Bayside Little League season at this beautiful new field.”
Addabbo Re-introduces Bill to Preserve Publicly Available Parking Spaces
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) this week re-introduced a bill (S.2488) requiring the City of New York to provide an equal number of public parking spaces for those spaces that have been eliminated in order to accommodate their buses.
“Local businesses relying heavily on customer accessibility and parking availability have experienced great hardships as a result of city projects eliminating critical parking spaces,” said Addabbo. “A major part of the redesigned roadway along Cross Bay and Woodhaven Boulevards eliminated public parking spaces which have had a detrimental impact on the small businesses located along the route as customers are not able to gain access to these merchants. Since small businesses are the heart of the thriving economy in a community, ample parking must be made available.”
In November 2017, the Select Bus Service in Queens went into effect in an effort to bring increased reliability for bus passengers, as well as greater safety to pedestrians and motorists. The legislation ensures that when future projects are put forth, the city dedicates an equal quantity of publicly available commercial or residential parking spots within a one-block radius for each parking spot that is eliminated or removed.
The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee
Constantinides Releases 2019 Participatory Budgeting Ballot
City Council Member Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) yesterday announced the proposed public works for this year’s Participatory Budgeting ballot.
Under participatory budgeting District 22 residents ages 14 and over have 13 options for how best to spend $1 million set aside for capital projects in western Queens.
“I am again happy to set aside these discretionary funds to build projects for the people, by the people,” said Constantinides. “Participatory Budgeting gives residents a direct say in what their community looks like. I encourage everyone eligible to vote to cast their ballots, whether at one of our poll sites or online.”
This year’s proposals include:
· Replace the auditorium speaker system at P.S. 122: $300,000
· Upgrade to high-speed WiFi at The Young Women’s Leadership School: $250,000
· Electrical upgrades for 11 classrooms at P.S. 70: $150,000
· Install water bottle refill stations at P.S. 2, 17, 84, 85, 122, 151, 171 and 234: $285,000
· Install a new irrigation system, extra plant beds and new outdoor furniture behind the Astoria Houses Community Center: $500,000
· Build an ADA-compliant ramp and install a low-energy door for Building 16 of the Astoria Houses: $400,000
· Resurface the handball court walls at Woodtree Playground: $500,000
· Resurface the handball court walls at Hoyt Playground: $500,000
· Install a new picnic grove for Ralph DeMarco Park: $500,000
· Put benches and gardens at 21st Street and Hoyt Avenue North: $500,000
· Implement Real Time Passenger Information technology on bus arrivals across District 22: $180,000
· Additional support for renovations at the Astoria Library: $250,000
· Upgrade the HVAC system at the Astoria Library: $250,000
More than 3,100 District 22 residents voted in last year’s Participatory Budgeting. An astounding 2,000 of those ballots were cast online, and citizens are again encouraged to opt for this year’s projects electronically from March 30 to April 7 at pbnyc.org/vote.
Sanders Hosts Free Tax Prep Services This week
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) in partnership with the IRS, Child Center of NY, and Beach 41st Street Tenant Association is bringing free tax preparation and filing this week for individuals and families earning less than $50,000 dollars.
The free tax prep is slated for between 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, March 27-29 at The Child Center of NY, Beach 41st Street Cornerstone Community Center, 426 Beach 40th Street in Far Rockaway.
You must make an appointment and have all required documents ready before you come in. To sign up, call Senator Sanders’ Office at 718-327-7017 or 718-523-3069.
