The newest addition to Hunters Point South in Long Island City will soon be opened to the public.
On June 21, Hunters Point South Park Phase 2 in Long Island City opened to the public, with a ribbon cutting ceremony to come on June 27, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The organization began construction on this phase in the second half of 2015. Phase 2 includes areas bound by 54th Street, Second Street, Newtown Creek and the East River, making the park double its current size.
The project was designed by architects from several firms, including SWA/Balsley and Weiss/Manfredi. The site of Phase 2 spans 5.5 acres and will comprise of a linear park, a kayak launch, a lawn for picnics and various walking paths, some of them leading to the waterfront. Other features include an area with fitness equipment for adults and a public art piece.
Plans for this phase also include nearly 1,200 units of housing, with 800 of those being affordable, and a 600-seat elementary school that is slated to open at 57th Avenue and Center Boulevard by 2020.
Phase 2 is part of the larger Hunters Point South project, spearheaded by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. According to the EDC, the project was proposed as a mixed-use, affordable housing development built on 30 acres of land next to a scenic waterfront. The development is expected to house up to 5,000 housing units, with 60 percent of them categorized as affordable.
The EDC opened the park to the public after they finished Phase 1 in August 2013. This phase included the areas bound by 50th Avenue to the north, Second Street to the east, 54th Avenue to the south, and the East River to the west. Phase 1 also includes two mixed-use buildings with more than 900 affordable housing units and about 20,000 square feet of retail space.
The ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference for Phase 2 is slated to take place on June 27 at from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those who wish to attend are asked to gather at 54th Avenue and Center Boulevard.
Edit made on June 25 at 3:27 p.m. to reflect the change in date of the ribbon cutting ceremony. An earlier version of this story said the ribbon cutting would take place on June 21.
