The Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy



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Digital Photograph by Jim Jaffe
The Late Patricia Dolan Former President of
Flushing Meadows Conservancy, Queens Civic Congress
Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association

 

DIGNITARIES, CIVIC LEADERS AND FRIENDS MOURN THE LOSS OF CIVIC LEGEND PATRICIA DOLAN

by Cynthia Zalisky, Secretary KGHCA 12/12/2011 

On Tuesday evening, November 29, 2011 elected officials, community leaders representing  the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association, the Queens Civic Congress, the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Conservancy, Community Board 8, colleagues and friends gathered at Schwartz Brothers-Forest Park Chapel to remember  the life and achievements of Patricia Dolan, who was tragically taken away from us on November 15, 2011.The hundreds of people in attendance were a testament to Pat’s dedication to Queens and especially to Kew Gardens Hills.

 

The moving tribute was led by Harold Baron, Chairman of the Board of the KGHCA , an organization that was near and dear to Pat, who served ably as its president.   Harold spoke of how devoted Pat Dolan was to the neighborhood and she worked tirelessly to make Kew Gardens Hills an ideal place to live in. “When there was a problem, one called Pat and it was taken care of ”. She leaves a deep void in our hearts.

 

Pat’s strength and wisdom was her willingness to work with everyone that would be of help the community.  The memorial service was a personification of that  diversity.  Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, who along with his father Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, worked continuously with Pat. In fact, Rabbi Schonfeld mentioned that he was scheduled to meet with Pat the very day after the tragedy. Rabbi Schonfeld remarked, “Every time we see another plant, another tree, another beautiful park.. we’ll know it was Pat Dolan leading the way.  She was the nuts and the bolts of our community.”

 

Among the many speakers was Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall who said, “Pat dedicated her life to Queens. She was the epitome of a civic leader and the definition of a community leader.” The Borough President spoke about Pat’s commitment to the upcoming renovation of the Vleigh Library.  It will be a shining example of Pat’s determination and love for the community.

“We lost a great soldier in the battle to keep our community safe and beautiful”.

 

NYC Comptroller John Liu, a longtime friend of Pat’s remarked.” She just was such a special person. It’s hard to believe that such an incredible force has been taken away from us”.

 

Richard C. Hellenbrecht, Executive Vice President of the Queens Civic Congress was among the mourners who reminisced about how Pat would call him early in the morning reminding him of things that needed to be done. “She was an inspirational leader, she was tireless, bright and intelligent,” said Hellenbrecht. “It is very difficult to think about life without her in the civic world of Queens, She was a ball of fire. If she has a opinion about something she stated it and she had the knowledge to back it up.”

 

 Other speakers included Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman,   Aida Gonzales-Jarrin, Chairwoman of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy and Irma E. Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Forest Hills Community House.

 

The most poignant moment was when, Norma Stegmaier, Pat’s long time friend and member of the Kew Gardens Civic Association talked about Pat on a  personal  level. “Pat had a way of pulling people in and getting people together”. She continued, “People knew Pat’s character as straightforward and to the point, but there was a funny, warm and soft side to Pat, as well.”

 

Everyone associated with Pat Dolan at the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association has committed themselves to continue the herculean efforts that Pat did for the community. To quote Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, “Pat, goodbye. We will not forget you”.

 

 

The Urban Rangers and the FMCP Conservancy are sponsoring Willow Lake natural area tours on Saturday Nov 5 and Sunday Dec 11.

Nov 5--meet at 10AM at the Al Mauro Playground--Park Drive East & 73 Terrace.
 

Dec 11--meet at 10AM at 72 Road and the GCP service road--the park overlook.

For info, call 718 539-8462.
 
 

 

 

Parks Links In The News

The Wonkster on Parks

Parks Reports

This Month's Story...
City Rules Could Transplant Gardens
By Eliza Ronalds-Hannon

While New York City adopts increasingly progressive measures to promote sustainability, at least one "green" group remains unsatisfied. Some community gardeners, charging that the most recent city regulations leave them largely unprotected, fear their plots of land could be snatched away at any time.

The rules enacted in September 2010 do not permanently protect existing gardens as an earlier agreement did. Instead, the city has reserved the right to swap the protected gardens for other similar space. That and other caveats outweigh any theoretical increase in protection, advocates say.

"We all hoped that the rules would say active gardens would be preserved, but they didn't," said Hannah Riseley-White, of the Green Guerillas. "When you read the text, it really says the gardens are protected, unless we want to sell them."

Even more importantly, many gardeners believe, all city gardens ultimately remain in jeopardy because none of the legislation they sought made it into the 2010 agreement. Without laws to protect gardens, those who work on them say, nothing is guaranteed.

"Rules and regulations are only as good at the current administration," said Karen Washington, the president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition. "That's not permanency."
 

To read more, go here.

Parks Links In The News

Early Snow Could Cost Central Park 1,000 Trees (11/1/2011)

After Storm, Central Park Sprints to Get Ready for Marathon (11/1/2011)

Most City Parks Earn High Marks (10/31/2011)

Concerns Over Maintenance Costs for Bloomberg's Million Tree Initiative (10/19/2011)

Protestors Asked to Leave for Cleaning, Then Abide by Rules on Return (10/13/2011)

More Parks links ...

Recent "Wonkster" Blog Posts

Breaking news and views on New York policy and politics

Recent Parks Reports
(Many reports are in .pdf format)

Enhancing the Waterfront (10/8/2010)

Grading Artificial Turf (7/6/2010)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ranger programs at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park from July - Sept 2011

  


Park Ranger showing how to Paddle



 


Handing out Life Vests


Ain't Life Grand?????


USTA serves up fourth arena

By JOHN DOYLE and CHUCK BENNETT

Last Updated: 5:00 AM, March 28, 2011

Posted: 1:18 AM, March 28, 2011

Billie Jean King is getting a makeover.

The Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Park, the site of the US Open, will get a brand-new 3,000-seat stadium to complement its three existing arenas, the United States Tennis Association said.

The Parks Department refused to release the preliminary designs for the new facility, but said it wouldn't require any public money and would not change the current borders beyond the 46.5 acres the tennis center already has.

It's unclear if any of the 30 public courts would be bulldozed to make room for the new facility.

Neil Miller

WHEN IT RAINS: These hearty fans, sitting through a rain delay at last year's US Open men's final, will soon have a brand-new, privately financed 3,000-seat stadium to take in matches at the Flushing tennis tournament.

"The lease holder has the right to make capital improvements. That's what is going on here," said Parks Department spokeswoman Vickie Karp.

The new stadium could be ready for side matches at this summer's US Open and will definitely open by 2012, said USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier.

But the project still needs approval from the city Design Commission, which oversees public lands.

"This stadium is not creating more free recreational opportunities for public use on what should be public parkland," said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates. "I would prefer more public-use facilities such as tennis courts or basketball courts instead of concession space."

The USTA pays the city about $1.5 million a year to rent the park space. The stadiums, except for the US Open and a handful of other tennis matches, sit empty the rest of the year.

chuck.bennett@nypost.com

Gates Open to Willow Lake August 18, 2010

Parks Opens the Gates to Willow Lake

Photo by Daniel Avila

On August 18, Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Council Members Karen Koslowitz and James Gennaro, members of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Conservancy and community members cut the ribbon on new gates that will serve as a formal entrances to Willow Lake.

Thanks to allocations of $200,000 from Council Member Koslowitz, $150,000 from Council Member Gennaro and $35,000 from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the decorative gates provide entryways to the public for guided tours of the lake. In addition, the FMCP Conservancy has secured funding to build a bird blind in the area and create a garden at the entrance of Mauro Playground.

Currently, Parks' Natural Resource Group is restoring Willow Lake so access is limited, pending the project's completion. The restoration project of Willow Lake began in Spring 2009, and includes the removal of phragmites and other invasive plants, amending soil, and planting almost 13,000 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers to improve biodiversity, hydrology, and ecosystem function around the lake. The Willow Lake Reforestation project is being done in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2011.

"Best Of" Skate Park Breaks Ground Near Unisphere"
 Courtesy of K. Jacob Ruppert Esq.  April 4, 2010

 

 

Earlier this week, construction got started on a new skate park near the 1964 World's Fair site in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The 16,000 square foot course, which is being built above the old Astral Fountain, will feature elements from around the city: "Original Brooklyn Banks 9-stair replica rail; Union Square rail/steps Police Plaza 7-stair rail/various stairs; Ziegfeld ledge; Chrystie Park ledge; Exchange Place street gap; JFK Banks; Con Ed Banks; Pyramid ledges; Flushing Meadows Park ledge-over-the-grate replica."

The skate park is being created in anticipation of a skateboarding competition, the Maloof Money Cup that will take place June 5 and 6. The Maloof Money Cup donated the park through the NYC Parks & Recreation Department's Adopt-a-Park program, and Joe Maloof, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings basketball team, said, "New York was first on our list of expansion markets because its the headquarters for skateboarding on the East Coast and is home to some of the most iconic skate spots in the world. With the Brooklyn Banks now closed for four years and the Unisphere set to close indefinitely, the timing was perfect for us to bring the Maloof Money Cup to New York City."

 

New bird watching shelter built

 

 
Queens Courier,  Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:33 PM EDT
 
When a group of Queens civic leaders organized the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy in 2002, they made promoting the park’s unique environmental features a major priority.

Since then, they’ve been working with Estelle Cooper, the park’s administrator, to improve the second largest park in the city. On Saturday, May 9, the group dedicated their first “bird blind,” an environmental observation post in the park.

The small wood structure was inspired by similar blinds at Gateway and Alley Pond Parks. “The Conservancy is tremendously grateful to the New York City Environmental Fund for funding this very special structure,” said Conservancy founder and former chairman Richard Hellenbrecht.

The structure, and another to be erected at nearby Willow Lake, were designed by Kew Gardens Hills resident Ed Fischer.

The conservancy works with the Urban Parks Rangers on monthly tours of the Willow Lake natural area, numerous model shoreline restorations and an environmental education project at Meadow Lake.

Shown here, conservancy members discuss environmental progress.

 


L-R Ed Fischer, Pat Dolan Pres FMCP, Tony Avella, Councilman
Photo by Jim Jaffe
L-R NA, Matt Symons Park Mgr, Estelle Cooper Deputy Park Commissioner
John Lieu Concilman, James Gennaro Councilman
Photo by Jim Jaffe
L-R Ed Fischer, David Kulic Treasurer FMCP, Pat Dolan Pres FMCP
Deputy Park Commissioner, Matt Symons Park Mgr
Photo by Jim Jaffe
 

 

Queens Greening/2009 featured a  workshop on the ecology of Meadow Lake and Willow Lake sponsored by the Conservancy. Dr. Peter Schmidt of the Queens College school of earth sciences was the presenter

L-R Richard Hellenbrecht, Dr. Peter Schmidt, Patricia Dolan, David Kulick

 


Ducks enjoying the spring weather on March 29

 

 
 

 

City seeks grant money to fix World's Fair landmark New York State Pavilion

BY NICHOLAS HIRSHON
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Wednesday, September 17th 2008, 9:25 PM


Hagen for News

The New York State Pavilion, with its space-age design, was built for 1964 World's Fair but now sits in disrepair.

After decades of neglect at the New York State Pavilion, the city wants the 1964 World's Fair icon added to the National Register of Historic Places, making it eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in rehab grants.

The move follows months of activity at the long-decaying structure, where workers lowered broken, loose elevators in July and are now patching concrete on the three towers and the columns of the Tent of Tomorrow rotunda.

"It's really an exciting time for the pavilion," said John Krawchuk, the city Parks Department's historic preservation director. "We're very positive about its future."

Preservationists praised the city's quest for state and federal funds, which may help pay for efforts to stabilize the pavilion and save a terrazzo map of New York State on the rotunda floor.

The state Historic Preservation Office - which approves sites for the register - called the pavilion a "nationally significant resource" in a 2003 letter to the city, and is "interested" in listing it, spokesman Dan Keefe said.

But Queens civic leader Greg Godfrey wondered why the Parks Department didn't push for city landmark status, which would bar major alterations and demolition at the pavilion.

"It doesn't make much sense," said Godfrey, president of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park World's Fair Association.

Krawchuk responded that city landmarking is "always a possibility," but takes much more time and effort than applying for the national register.

The city Landmarks Preservation Commission is reviewing the pavilion, said agency spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon.

Designed by famed architect Philip Johnson, the pavilion's space-age design made it an unofficial symbol of Queens - along with another 1964 World's Fair relic, the Unisphere.

But the impressive edifice fell into disrepair after the fair ended in 1965, with vandals picking away at the New York State map and cracks developing in the towers and columns.

Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, said the city's move to put the pavilion on the national register signaled sincere interest in restoration.

"People have been talking about wanting to save it since pretty much the World's Fair," Bankoff said. "I would view it as a step in the right direction."

 

 

 



Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Dedication of a Sign at Meadow Lake by Senator Frank Padavan  June 10 2008



Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (Meadow Lake)
Local Boy Scout Troop with Senator Frank Padavan helping clean up Meadow Lake May 17 2008

 


 

 

 

Conservancy and Park Celebrate Earth Day With a Canoe Ride

Earth day was celebrated by the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy along with the Urban Park Rangers and the citizens of our community by attending a "Canoe Ride" at Meadow Lake, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Under the supervision of  Sergeant Howward Kreft who is the supervisor of the Queens Urband Park Rangers, memmbers of the Queens community A canoe ride. Sunday morning at 11:30 members of the Queens community and their children gathered at the southern end of Meadow lake and signed up for a canoe ride the first ever given in celebration of "Earth Day".

"To View Full Sized Photos "Click" on them Click the back button on your Browser to return to this page"


Waiting for the canoe ride
Signing Up
Checking things out

Handing out Life Vests
Showing how to adjust Life Vest
This is how you paddle

Oops the canoe rolls over
All is well and now in the water
Another successful lanuch

Isn't the lake wonderful???		  
Dave Kulik "Treasurer" FMCP soncervancy in Kayak

 

Park Rangers Take Residents Out For a Canoe Trip!
To display full size click on photo


Photo by Edward Fisher
Photo by Edward Fisher
Photo by Edward Fisher

During the later days of August, our Flushing Meadows-Corona Park rangers took residents of our fair borough of Queens out in canoes and led them paddle their way from Meadow lake (formerly the "Blue Lagoon" of the World's fair to Willow lake which is on the other side of Jewel Avenue and in the Federal Wildlife preserve.. The canoes and paddles and life jackets were supplied at no cost to those who participated in this event. During the fall months we should have some outings for "Bird Watchers and Leaf Peepers". These events will be announced here as well as on the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy site.. www.fmcpconservancy.org

 

 

PLAY…RELAX…ENJOY FLUSHING MEADOWS-CORONA PARK

© 2011 FMCPConservancy.org

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