As New York City contemplates the future of Willets Point, the cultural institutions of neighboring Flushing Meadows-Corona Park see an unprecedented opportunity to develop northern Queens as a cultural destination. This revitalization will serve not only the millions of New Yorkers who already visit our institutions annually, but also tourists and convention-goers from beyond the region.
The planned redevelopment, including a mid-sized convention center and hotel, will entice people to come to Queens and contribute their discretionary time and money to the benefit of our borough. In addition, for the first time, New York City will compete nationally for the 2,000-5,000 registrant conferences that drive economic development in so many cities across the country.
Furthermore, the redevelopment of Willets Point will add to the resurgence already underway in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. All of the park’s cultural institutions are making dramatic improvements to our facilities and developing new opportunities to engage with our audiences:
Together, these projects represent hundreds of millions of dollars of investment - both public and private - providing services to millions of people each year. More importantly, these projects are an investment in the future of Queens, branding our borough as a destination for cultural tourism.
These exciting projects are occurring alongside the commercial and residential developments that are reinvigorating Flushing, Corona, and all of northern Queens. Forty-three residential developments are either planned or already in construction, and a redeveloped Willets Point will unify northern Queens as a focal point for tourism and recreation.
Today, there are many reasons to visit northern Queens - go to a ballgame or tennis match, visit a museum, enjoy a great meal - but these are all one-day activities. With a convention center and hotel, Willets Point will transform this area from a great place to spend a few hours to a great place to stay for a few days. A revitalized Willets Point will reconnect northern Queens to its waterfront and integrate several world-class facilities into a cultural tourism hub.
Queens residents, of which more than one million visit our cultural institutions annually, will derive greater benefits from improved facilities, transit, and infrastructure. More importantly, an influx of tourism means more economic development, more investment in cultural institutions and more benefits for Queens.
To look at just one recent example: in July, more than 100,000 people came to Flushing Meadows for two Billy Joel concerts. They came from all over our region and beyond. They bought tickets, food and souvenirs. Then they got in their cars, or caught their trains, and left. If we provide people with an opportunity, they will come to Queens and contribute to our culture and our economy. And if we build a hotel and convention center at Willets Point - if we strengthen Queens as a world-class recreation and exposition venue - they will come more often and they will stay longer to see more of what we have to offer.
The redevelopment of Willets Point will undoubtedly create a vibrant corridor between bustling downtown Flushing, our expansive park, and the rest of northern Queens. In supporting this redevelopment, we echo the concerns of Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and urge the city to work with the current property owners, to assist businesses with relocation, and to stand behind its commitment to provide job training to those workers displaced by the project. We trust that the city will live up to its obligations and look forward to seeing the Willets Point redevelopment move forward, creating a new destination for residents of Queens, the city, and tourists from beyond the five boroughs.
Tom Finkelpearl, Executive Director, Queens Museum of Art
Marilyn Hoyt, President and CEO, New York Hall of Science
Susan Lacerte, Executive Director, Queens Botanical Garden
Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director, Queens Theatre in the Park
