College Point Runners To Change Racing Days & Routes

Faced with mounting community opposition and rising traffic congestion, the College Point Road Runners Club may alter the day, time and route of the club’s 18th annual Queens Half Marathon, scheduled for April 2000.
At a meeting convened by C.B. 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman, community leaders and race organizers sought solutions to the impact of the 13.1-mile run. The current route sends nearly 3,000 runners, twice through 6.5 miles of key business and residential streets in College Point, Malba, and Whitestone on a Sunday.
With the rapid development of the nearby College Point Corporate Park, local groups charge the race has triggered negative traffic impacts on the three communities: heavy congestion in local shopping districts, Malba residents are virtually locked in their homes, older parishioners are prevented from attending church services, and major arteries used for emergency vehicle response are blocked by runners.
According to Leo Nicholas, President of the College Point Road Runners, his members are considering such proposals as:
• Changing the race day form Sunday to Saturday.
• Changing the starting time from 10 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Elimination of 20 Ave. form the racing route.
• Route modifications in Malba, College Point, and Whitestone to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian movement.
Based on these proposals, Ms. Bitterman said that the principals will meet again in November to finalize the details. She called the meeting "very productive," and said that everyone was in favor of continuing the race.
For the past two decades, the non-profit College Point Road Runners have been closely linked to the community’s welfare and betterment. Joining other groups, they have made annual donations and offered public support to such long-time College Point programs as educational scholarships, the College Point security patrol, ambulance corps, boy and girl scout troops, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as to assorted youth programs. To help cut costs and increase funding for these charities, an estimated 35 members of the local Road Runners assist in the planning and conduct of the race.
While conceding that the heavy traffic has been generated by the giant corporate park and the reconstruction of nearby 14 Ave., Sabina Cardali, President of the College Point Civic/Taxpayers Association, praised the many local public-spirited contributions made by the Road Runners to the local community.
Calling Malba, "virtually locked in on marathon days," Pauline Giudice, representing the Malba Association board of directors, declared her organization, "hopes to work with the Road Runners to come up with a course that will alow for as little inconvenience to our neighborhood." The association, she said, favored the continuance of the marathon.