By Tommy Hallissey
“As New Yorkers we are pleased that the IOC recognized that our city is the world's greatest,” said Dolan. “We are troubled that five years after NYC 2012 announced its plans for a New York City Olympiad, it has no idea of how to mitigate the effects the games will have on communities like ours or on the venues for the games like Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the borough's biggest and best park.”
Shirley B. Weinstein, president of the Mid Queens Community Council, said she does not have a problem with the Olympics descending on New York, but she is concerned about the impact the games could have on Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
“I would like them to stay out of the park,” said Weinstein. “They'll be eliminating the wetlands. I don't think the wetlands should be touched.”
The wetlands in Flushing Meadows Corona Park are a New York State protected habitat.
Weinstein said she also was concerned that any construction necessary for the games would close down the park for an extended amount of time. “That to me is horrendous,” she said. “That would be a tragedy.”
On May 18, it was announced that New York had advanced to the final stage of the International Olympic Committee's selection process for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The field was winnowed down from nine candidates to a final five. In addition to New York, Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow made the cut. Havana, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Leipzig, Germany were eliminated.
The winning city will be announced on July 6, 2005. Thus far, Paris has emerged as the front-runner while New York, which has never hosted an Olympics, was ranked fourth.
Queens will play a large role in the 2012 Summer Olympics should New York City win the bidding war. The proposed privately funded athlete's village would be on the western Queens waterfront. After the Olympics, the athlete's village would be transformed into 4,400 units of affordable housing.
Other Queens Olympic locations include a badminton court and velodrome in Long Island City, regulation swimming pools in Astoria, a marina in Breezy Point, and venues for tennis and white water kayaking in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Dolan said she was concerned about the lasting effects of hosting a large-scale event, such as the Olympics.
“Will the community be left with rusted-out relics of a 17-day extravaganza as it was following the last World's Fair?” she asked. Dolan said there is no plan for Flushing Meadows Corona Park the day after the Olympics.
Before the planning goes any further, Dolan said she wants a chance to give her input into the Olympic process.
“It is past time for NYC2012 to sit down with community leaders and come up with a plan that will serve the city now, during the games if they come to the city and after,” said Dolan.
Reach reporter Tommy Hallissey by e-mail at news@timesledger, or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
