Highland Park revival

Straddling Brooklyn and Queens, Highland Park commands beautiful views of East New York, Woodhaven, the Rockaways and the Atlantic Ocean. However, it is only in the last couple of years that this 150-acre area has been steadily attracting local residents.
The reason: its recently-established community activities, all free-of-charge, initiated by Debbie Kuha, of Bayside, who became an administrator of the park a couple of years ago. On Monday, June 30, Kuha received a Meritorious Service Award for her contribution to Highland Park’s improvement. The award came from the Highland Park Community Development Corporation (HPCDC), an anti-poverty charity organization in Brooklyn.
The activities Kuha started include concerts, festivals, sports games and puppet shows. She also oversaw the installation of picnic tables and grills in the upper portion of the park, which lies in Queens.
Currently the park offers baseball and basketball clinics, where coaches teach boys and girls between the ages of eight and 14 how to play these games.
“It’s something that these kids and their parents need to see,” said William Ruiz, board member of HPCDC. “We don’t want her [Kuha’s] efforts to go unnoticed,” he explained.
“I had no idea – I was very surprised,” Kuha said about the award. “It’s very nice to be recognized for what you do,” she added.
To find Highland Park’s schedule, call 311 or visit the website of the Department of Parks and Recreation, www.nyc.gov/parks.