Willow Lake re-opens for Sunday tour

The Willow Lake Natural Area, a state-protected wetland will be opened by City Park Rangers for a tour on Sunday, January 21 at noon, the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy has announced.
According to Patricia Dolan, president of the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy, the area, which has been closed to the public for the past ten years, was shut down following a number fires set by vandals, and subsequent pressure from the community.
Local residents were responsible for the area being declared a protected wet land, and then former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern declared it “forever wild.”
The park has now been fenced however, limiting access by vandals and this re-opening represents the first in several planned periodic openings over the next few months. “No one knows if the vandals will stay away,” said Dolan, “So this is a test-run to see if opening the area works.”
Although it’s winter and the walk will be cancelled in the event of rain or snow, January is the best time of year to view the Tundra Swan and some of the other birds that frequent the park, which is part of the Atlantic Flyway. The walk is expected to last about an hour-and-a-half.
“The Conservancy congratulates the Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski for the long-awaited repair of the Willow Lake Bridge, which makes opening this unique section of the Park possible in the future,” Dolan said.
Those wishing to join the walk should meet the Rangers at Al Mauro Playground at 73rd Terrace and Park Drive East, on the east side of the park midway between Jewel Avenue and Union Turnpike. “Bring binoculars and water,” said Dolan. There are plans to repeat the walk on Feb 25. For information, call 718-520-5900.