Woodside and 39th Avenues
July 20, 2012 By Bill Parry
The intersection of Woodside Ave. and 39th Ave. has been an eyesore for years, posing a hazard for motorists and pedestrians alike.
That has changed with the creation of a new Greenstreet at the location. Greenstreets are beautification initiatives carried out by the NYC Parks Dept. that convert stripped traffic islands or unused roadways into pint-sized parks.
The Woodside Ave. Greenstreet project was unveiled Tuesday by city council member Jimmy Van Bramer and Queens Borough Parks Department commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. The pair showed off a “beautiful little pocket park,” as Van Bramer called it.
The little park will “replace what was once a barren and unused roadway that was both confusing and dangerous,” Van Bramer said. “The street is now safer, the area is greener, plus there are new sidewalks and bike lanes.”
“This fixes a very dangerous intersection,” said Community Board 2 chairman Joe Conley.
Lewandowski said that the project cost $63,500 and that the funding came from the mayor’s office.
This pocket-park, located at the base of Windmuller Park, is expected to help combat flooding problems. “This project alleviates that problem and the Dept. of Environmental Protection will help by adding more tree pits in the area to absorb even more water during storms,” Lewandowski said.
Contractors have guaranteed the city that they will maintain the park for two years. Community groups will do what they can to provide further upkeep.
