Oct. 2, 2015 By Michael Florio
A worn-out Woodside Park is about to undergo a $1.8 million makeover.
A significant portion of Big Bush Park, located between 61st and 64th Street, will be repaired and new playground equipment will be installed.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz unveiled the plans Friday morning at Big Six Towers Community Center.
The renovations will apply to 0.9 acres of the 2.5-acre park.
The plans make way for new swings, a larger spray shower, as well as two play areas– one for children aged 2-5 years and another for children aged 5-12 years old.
The design makes room for a new adult fitness area, a new drinking fountain and a games table. The seating will be upgraded; the lighting improved; and additional space will be set aside for plants and shrubbery.
Forty trees will be planted in the park as part of the revamp.
Van Bramer and Katz allocated the funding for the makeover.
Van Bramer reached out to Katz last year after he heard from constituents that it needed to be refurbished.
“This is the only park that serves the people of the Big Six and this portion of Woodside,” Van Bramer said. “It is incredible well utilized,” he added, hence the need for it to be upgraded.
Dorothy Lewandowski, Queens Parks Commissioner, said the park is likely to get greater use once it is revamped.
“When we restore playgrounds it brings out new people,” she said. “They see something new and attractive that hasn’t been there before and want to check it out.”
The upgrade is expected to begin next year and to be completed in 2017.
