Sept. 1, 2015 By Jackie Strawbridge
The borough’s first Planned Parenthood healthcare center opened its doors to patients on Tuesday.
The 14,000 square-foot facility is located at 21-41 45th Rd. in Court Square. With the opening of this new center, Planned Parenthood of New York City now serves all five boroughs.
“We’re thrilled to be opening the doors of this beautiful new health center in the diverse and vibrant borough of Queens,” PPNYC president and CEO Joan Malin said in a statement. “Queens residents, and all New Yorkers, will now have increased access to the high-quality, confidential sexual and reproductive health care services they need, regardless of their income or immigration status.”
Health services at the Court Square center will include breast and cervical cancer screening, gynecological care, birth control and pregnancy testing, among others. Abortion services will be added later this year.
On-site health insurance enrollment through Medicaid and the New York State of Health marketplace will also be available.
PPNYC cut the ribbon on the new facility in May, with local officials including Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Borough President Melinda Katz and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer joining the celebration.
Van Bramer allocated about $750,000 for the opening of the Long Island City Planned Parenthood. Earlier this month, he recorded a video at the center to speak in support of Planned Parenthood before the U.S. Senate voted on a measure to defund the organization, which did not pass.
A PPNYC spokesperson said that the new center took longer to achieve City and State approvals than expected, pushing the opening back from its originally planned date in June.
Since the ribbon cutting, the organization has been hiring and training staff, presenting open houses and tours and hosting its Queens sex education program at the Court Square facility.
The street was quiet for the center’s opening day; PPNYC said it is unaware of any protester activity since the ribbon cutting. Like all Planned Parenthood facilities nationwide, the Court Square facility is equipped with metal detectors.
The center will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PPNYC anticipates that the center will serve 17,500 clients each year.
