Photo: QueensPost
May 17, 2013 By Christian Murray
It’s almost time to let the dogs out.
Lou Lodati/Tornsey Park, which has been undergoing renovation for the past year, is expected to reopen in early June.
The revamp is finishing well ahead of schedule. The Parks Department broke ground in September and anticipated at the time that it would take a year to complete.
The upgraded park will now include a dog run—for both big and small dogs—as well as new planting beds throughout the site.
The Parks Department has also resurfaced the existing asphalt which will contain separate areas for a softball/baseball field, volleyball/ecuavolley and basketball courts.
The renovation was largely the result of a grass-roots campaign by the Sunnyside United Dog Society (SUDS)—and its leader Rick Duro—who pushed for nearly a decade for a dog run and park upgrades. The group’s goal became one of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s campaign promises when he ran for office three and a half years ago.
“I keep on my desk a list of things that I pledged during my campaign,” the councilman said last year.
“When SUDS first approached me… it spurred in me the desire to fix the entire park,” he said, adding that the revamp will be a great asset to the community.
The dog-run advocates, who formed SUDS in 2001, have had many setbacks in pursuit of their dream over the years. Their initial design plans were voted down by the community board, and then when the amended plans were finally approved and the funds allocated in 2007—-the city budget cuts railroaded them.
The revamp comes at a cost of $1.4 million and was funded through allocations from Van Bramer and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.
