It took more than 13 years, but the second phase of the construction at the College Point Fields has finally been completed. College Point families now have a state-of-the-art sports facility.
The second phase included creating a soccer field, new Little League fields and renovations to the existing baseball fields and roller-skating rink. The facility, which cost $13 million to complete, will be enjoyed by more than 1,300 area children.
Former City Councilman Tony Avella said it was “gratifying to see the park dream come to fruition and I don’t think any other field in Queens can compare to it now.” Tony Cusenza, president of the First Sports Club of College Point, praised Avella for his role in building the fields.
This dream was almost derailed by Flushing-based company EnviroFill, which illegally dumped construction waste at the site. EnviroFill officials and the owners of a dumping company were tried and convicted for burying the waste under the fields.
As he announced the opening, Avella made it clear that the College Point Sports Association, of which he was the president, is not to blame for the delay and the costly environmental damage. “We hired a contractor to do the right thing and he didn’t,” he said.
Several elected officials worked with Avella to open the padlocked fields and complete the work. They include Mayor Michael Bloomberg, state Sen. Frank Padavan and state Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn.
Remembering Pakistan
In an event that demonstrated the compassion and diversity of this borough, elected officials held a press conference last week at which they urged Queens residents to donate food and money to aid the victims of the flooding in Pakistan. It is estimated that at least 2,000 people have died and 4 million have been left homeless.
City Councilman Danny Dromm and state Sen. Jose Peralta urged the people of Queens to be as generous as possible in the face of this devastation. They recognized that some people may be reluctant to donate because they do not trust the Pakistani government.
They gave their assurance that the food and funds will be put to good use.
