By Alexander Dworkowitz
The city Parks Department will soon begin a $1.77 million restoration project for the lake in Kissena Park designed to clean up the body of water and prevent the buildup of algae.
Over the next year, the city plans to drain parts of the lake and construct a new storm drainage system, cleansing the lake and increasing circulation to fight algae.
Built in the 1930s, the lake later was drained and lined with concrete on its sides.
At the time, the concrete lining was thought to produce a healthier lake. Over time, however, the lining was found to cut circulation, which led to algae. The algae, in turn, cuts off sunlight to fish in the lake, reducing their population.
By getting rid of the lining and adding wells, the city hopes to improve the flow of water, preventing a layer of algae from forming.
Adrian Benepe, commissioner of the Parks Department, said the project also would include new walkways and natural landscapes around the lake.
“It will completely reconfigure the lake,” he said.
The Kissena Lake project is one of two undertakings in Flushing aimed at cleaning a body of water.
The Parks Department will also soon start installing a system of pumps to clean out the pond in Bowne Park, funded by $250,000 in discretionary funds from state Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing).
Benepe said that in the past his department had focused on projects such as making sure restrooms worked.
But more recently, the city has targeted more aesthetic aspects of parks.
“The parks have just become better in the last 20 years,” Benepe said. “Now people are looking at things that they wouldn’t have looked at before.”
As a section of Kissena Lake is worked on, it will be roped off and closed to the public, park officials said.
The project has earned the support of many who live nearby.
“It’s supposed to clean out part of the lake and make it more natural,” said Max Kahn, who sits on the board of directors of the Kissena Park Civic Association.
Kahn added that his group was going to keep close track of the renovations.
On a recent afternoon, visitors to the lake expressed more concern over garbage thrown in the lake than algae.
“Frankly, I haven’t seen too many algae,” said Luciano Bini. “You see a lot of people throw things in it.”
Robert Helriegel, who was fishing in the lake, recalled having once caught a brick on his line and thought one day he might catch worse.
“I’m likely to pull out a skull or something.”
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
