A 77-year-old field house in Queensbridge Park will be demolished to make way for a new energy-efficient building and comfort station.
On March 29, the Parks Department, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Long Island City residents broke ground on the $6.25 million building at a spot below the Queensboro Bridge. The old field house, which was constructed in 1941, will be demolished to make way for the new 1,500-square-foot facility.
The new, LEED-certified field house will include a community room, an office area for Parks staff, a public restroom and storage space for the park’s maintenance equipment. In addition, an outdoor plaza with seating, bike racks and water fountains will be constructed around the field house.
“This new Park House will bring great new amenities to all who use Queensbridge Park,” said Van Bramer, who allocated $2.5 million for the project. “Ensuring that this park has all of the features and amenities needed to serve the seniors, families and children of Queensbridge and western Queens has always been a priority for me. I am so happy to be here today breaking ground at the site as we mark the next step in making this Park House a reality.”
Green design features include plumbing fixtures that reduce water use, an energy efficient heating and cooling system, energy-efficient lighting, increased ventilation and light-colored paving to keep temperatures down in the park.
The park, which was acquired by the city in 1939, is home to a soccer-football field, baseball fields, basketball, volleyball and handball courts, a playground with see-saws, swings and jungle gym, a wading pool and picnic areas.
The new design was presented to the community in April 2017 and the new field house will be opened in summer 2019.
