By Nathan Duke
More than 100 residents from both communities voiced their ideas for the park to city Parks Department representatives and City Council members Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) and Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills) at a special town meeting last Thursday at Our Lady of Hope School in Middle Village, where the park's designers presented a preliminary plan for the site.KeySpan Corporation, the previous owner of the site, agreed to sell the land to the city for the purpose of a park for $1 to Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2004 at his State of the City address. Community residents and elected officials have said the Elmhurst/Maspeth border is densely populated and praised the construction of the park. Civic leaders previously had opposed a proposal by KeySpan to sell the site to allow a Home Depot to be built there.Juniper Park Civic Association President Robert Holden, who helped fight for the creation of the park, praised the mayor and said he recognized a need for green space in the densely populated community.”We are fighting over what we want at the park, but it's going to be a park,” he said. “That's a lot better than a Home Depot.”The city currently has committed $10.6 million to the project, which will cover phase one of construction, set to begin later this year, park designer Nancy Prince said. She said the city has committed a total of $20 million to the park, which is expected to open in 2008.Prince unveiled the conceptual plan for phase one of the park, which will include bringing soil to the site, establishing grass and planting trees, building a retaining wall around the area at the site where the railroad runs and building a fence to separate the park from the neighboring Verizon building. She said the city Parks Department has plans to create a walking path, an entrance for elderly residents, a comfort station with bathroom, a children's playground, a woodland garden and sitting area and a fountain in which children can play.Residents from Elmhurst and Maspeth voiced suggestions on how to fill remaining park space. Several residents said the park should be used to combat the density of the area and help fight pollution.”We need green space – we're overbuilt,” said Richard Italiano, district manager of Community Board 4, which covers Elmhurst. “We need trees, we need grass.”Most attendees applauded loudly for Vietnam Veterans Chapter 32 President Pat Toro's suggestion calling for the creation of a Vietnam veteran memorial at the site.”We would like to have one memorial in the borough of Queens for Vietnam veterans,” he said. “We want something for our war.”A number of residents at the meeting called for more field space for local sports teams and safe places for children to play.”I absolutely agree we need green, quiet space – it's essential,” resident Lee Principe said. “But, kids desperately need a place to play.”Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timeledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
