New Public Spaces On Qns. Blvd.
Sunnyside residents will soon be able to enjoy more open space as the neighborhood will be getting two new public plazas as part of the Department of Transportation (DOT) NYC Plaza Program, it was announced last Friday, Apr. 11.
City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) partnered to bring the new plazas to the area. This program will debut a the end of the month with a community outreach meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Apr. 30.
“I am proud that we were able to successfully secure not one, but two public plazas for Sunnyside,” Van Bramer said in a press release.
“Through this innovative program, we will expand the amount of public space that is available to everyone in the community,” he said.
Construction of the plazas will begin this summer.
The new plazas will be located at 40th Street and Queens Boulevard, with the second a few blocks away at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard.
Sunnyside Shines submitted applications last year to the DOT and Van Bramer supported the proposal. In early April, DOT notified Van Bramer and the BID that the applications were accepted, with Sunnyside Shines given the responsibility of maintaining the spaces.
“Sunnyside Shines’ inclusion in the city’s Public Plaza Program is not only a sign of how much the BID has done to make our community an even more vibrant place, it is also a reflection of Sunnyside’s growth as a great place to live work and play,” State Sen. Michael Gianaris said in a press release.
The public is encouraged to give their input during the outreach meeting scheduled for Apr. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, located at 43-31 39th St., to discuss design and programming options
“We look forward to making these public spaces more vibrant public places in the neighborhood,” said Rachel Thieme, executive director of Sunnyside Shines.
Sunnyside Shines is a local nonprofit that seeks to “invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe, welcoming and dynamic commercial district in Sunnyside, Queens,” according to their website.
The applications reportedly had broad support from the community with 13 letters in support from elected officials, business owners, property owners and residents.
