Deborah Marton, President of New York Restoration Project, recently wrote “Preventing Crime, One Green Space at a Time.” She said ”Green space crucially is a social infrastructure that sets the stage for community engagement”. “Parks are a vital third place aside from work and home that knits neighborhoods together for the common good.” We couldn’t agree with her more. Since the Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy started engaging volunteer services, the safety of our park has been improving year after year. We are the living proof of how a Park Advocate Group can do more for their park. It took us a long time to realize that a local park is built by grassroots’ joint efforts, especially when there are scarce resources of government budget and funding.
2018 was a phenomenal year for Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy:
We were the recipient of the Park Equity Initiative in Fiscal Year 2018. With this funding, we were able to support parks in green space development. We also hosted our first movie night “The Spiderman Homecoming” in June 2018.
We are also proudly announcing, that the Conservancy was the winner of the 2018 Queens Golden Trowel Award. The Reception was held at Prince George Ballroom, in Manhattan on March 27, 2019.
And this is how we were introduced:
“For well over a decade, the Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy has been serving the Flushing, Queens Community by working with NYC Parks to care for the vast, open spaces of this 100-acre park. In 2018 the Conservancy hosted two It’s My Park Day projects, bringing out almost 150 community members to volunteer. Because of this park’s expansive size and abundant natural space, it had become a site for crime. To address this, the Conservancy worked with Council Member Peter Koo to secure two Parks Enforcement Officers to patrol the area. The Conservancy also hosted their first movie night and successfully advocated funding for capital improvement projects throughout the park, including a mediation garden.”
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and volunteer groups: Partnerships for Parks, Holly Civic Association and Evergreen Community Garden; and our team of volunteers: Boy Scout Troop 888, East West School for International Studies and their parents, Tsu-Chi Foundation, The Hindu Temple Society of North America and the 109th Precinct Explorers, etc. Because of your persistent support and service, together, we have made our park looks so inviting.
Delightful news to announce:
* Mayor de Blasio appropriated funding for lighting in Kissena Corridor Park;
* 56th Road which connects Kissena Park was rebuilt.
* A state of the art playground replacing the Cold Spring playground was rebuilt and opened.
* Meditation Garden will be constructed later on this year.
* Mr. Mike Dockett is the newly appointed Parks Commissioner Queens. He is replacing Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, who retired in 2018 after 30 years of service with the Parks Department.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Lewandowski. Because of her advice we formed the Conservancy, so we could be more involved and have a voice for our Park. Since that time, we have planted 7,000 trees, hosted IMP events and applied for capital funding for Parks project. Thank you Commissioner Lewandowski. Happy Retirement!
* Kissena Way Project: After years of dedication, the Eastern Queens Greenway finally received attention from the Mayor’s Office. We hope with their advocacy, the Parks and Department of Transportations will come up with an estimated budget plan for the Kissena Way that is wheelchair assessable before the next budget season begins.
* Evergreen Community Garden, affiliated with the Green Thumb, New York Department of Parks
And Recreation is located at 46-20 Colden Street, Flushing NY 11355,
Mr. Bob Choung is the newly elected President.
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Mark your calendar
It’s My Park Day for Spring 2019
Saturday, May 4 From 9 am to Noon.
Please join us for the Spring Cleanup Initiative.
Contact person: Dorothy Woo 718-762-6383, Denise Winters 917-804-4625
Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 7 pm to 9 pm
Place: Flushing Hospital Boardroom, 5th Floor
46-01, 45th Avenue, Flushing NY 11355
Moon Festival celebration!
The Flushing Development Center announced that their annual 2019 Moon Festival activities at the Kissena Corridor Park will be held on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14. In addition to their usual program of the parade and fireworks, the Kissena Corridor Park Conservancy has been invited to host a movie night for the event. Details will be announced at a later date.
