KeySpan Site To Become City Park

Councilmembers Dennis Gallagher and Melinda Katz, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Senator Serphin Maltese, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall recently announced that the City of New York had officially purchased the KeySpan gas tanks site in Elmhurst-Maspeth-Middle Village for $1. The site is set to become a six-acre city park.
"This is a great gift for Queens residents and New Yorkers alike. The finalization today of the KeySpan site to be made into a park for all the residents of Elmhurst, Maspeth and Middle Village is welcome and rewarding news for the entire community. This is a terrific example of the great progress that can be made when invested parties sit down and work for the ultimate good of the people they serve. I especially want to thank Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Serphin Maltese, Assemblywoman Marge Markey, and all the elected officials at the federal, state and city levels for their efforts in turning this land into a park," said Congressman Joseph Crowley.
Crowley continued, "I want to thank KeySpan and their CEO for their willingness to work with the people of Elmhurst, Maspeth and Middle Village, the elected officials and all other parties involved to return the…tank site to the community. Todays sale reaffirms KeySpans commitment to the ratepayers of New York City. I also want to thank Bob Holden, the Juniper Park Civic Association and Tony Nunziato. Without their tireless efforts on behalf of this community, the park would still be a dream."
"The mayor deserves our sincere appreciation and a great deal of credit for stepping in and helping rescue a grateful community,"said Senator Serphin Maltese.
"It is great that once again KeySpan has demonstrated what a community-minded company they are. It also shows what cooperation between elected government representatives and community leaders can accomplish. Its wonderful that this land will now be enjoyed by many generations to come for years," said Markey.
Councilman Dennis Gallagher said, "This represents the true essence of democracy, the people taking the power into their own hands to decide the fate of their community. This serves as a great sign that the voices of New Yorkers are still heard throughout every level of government and even in the halls of Americas most powerful corporations."
"I am so proud of the work of both the community and my colleagues. This is just one example of what can happen when the community and its representatives work together for a common goal," said Councilwoman Melinda Katz.
Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall said, "This is a wonderful Christmas gift to the people of Queens who cherish and need more open space in which to enjoy the wonderful recreational opportunities in the borough. The addition of these six acres to our borough’s open space inventory is a legacy that will last for generations. The mayor, KeySpan and all the help of the local elected officials involved in this settlement today stand together with the community in celebration of this settlement. The settlement also represents the best in public private partnership and the spirit of community."
The elected officials represent the communities of Elmhurst, Maspeth, and Middle Village in Queens. The Elmhurst Gas Tanks site, which is being vacated by the KeySpan Corporation, is located on the corner of Grand Avenue and 74th Street. These elected officials have been involved in negotiations with KeySpan over the past year. The elected officials have worked tirelessly to assemble the support of the community to turn the land into public use.
At an October 24, 2003 meeting with local elected officials and KeySpan, the unified elected officials of Queens demanded that the contract with a local developer be torn up and re-affirmed their opposition to a big box retail store. On November 7, 2003, KeySpan announced that the land would be sold to the City of New York for community use. Now, the City of New York has paid $1 for the six-acre piece of land.