By Bill Parry
The city will renovate and rename a popular Jackson Heights park and rename it to honor the achievements of a longtime community advocate.
Bulova Park is now known at Louis C. Moser Park for the man who is best remembered for the creation of the North Queens Home Owners’ Civic Association, which was formed in 1941 and grew to more than 700 families by the time he died in 1983.
The group focused its efforts on preserving the residential character of northern Queens by preventing over-development and defending the rights and interests of homeowners.
“The time has come to bid farewell to Bulova Park as we know it –we are rebuilding the park for a new generation with a new name that pays homage to the community,” Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said. “A year from now we look forward to unveiling update equipment, a new spray shower, painted games and colorful plantings. It’s an honor to name this park after Louis C. Moser, and we are sure that this renovation will realize his dream for better community parks in northern Queens.”
Moser also promoted both pedestrian and motorist safety in Jackson Heights. Throughout his 42 years of civic service, Moser staunchly supported the proliferation and maintenance of parks and playgrounds in the neighborhood.
The $1.87 million renovation of the acre-and-a-half park, located on 77th Street and 25th Avenue, was funded by the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Improvements to our parks bring vital improvements to our neighborhoods,” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria ) said. “The new play equipment, swings, plantings and adult fitness equipment will help better serve the surrounding community. I am proud to have allocated over $1.3 million in funding for this renovation and I thank Mayor de Blasio for making this upgrade a priority. We are honored to recognize Louis Moser’s civic service and contributions to our neighborhood by re-naming this park after him.”
Meanwhile, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) announced the $6 million renovation and expansion of the Ravenswood Playground in Astoria Monday. The city’s Department of Sanitation will have to move its garage behind the park to create additional space that Mayor de Blasio promised at a town hall meeting in May.
“During my tenure in the City Council, I have made it a priority to improve or renovate virtually every single park in my district,” Van Bramer said. “I am especially pleased that this renovation, in tandem with the $130 million commitment made by the mayor earlier this year to move the DSNY Depot at Ravenswood, signals a real win of environmental justice for this community. I look forward to seeing a fully renovated playground that the whole community can be proud of.”
Local leaders of community groups will play a role in the design phase, which gets underway this winter. Work is set to begin in 2018.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
