Bridge & Tunnel Park (NYC Parks)
Dec. 10, 2019 By Kristen Torres
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and the Parks Department are looking to rename a Long Island City park that they say has a very bland name.
Officials are looking to rename Bridge & Tunnel Park, located at 50th Avenue between 11th Street and 11th Place, after residents complained that the current name does not effectively represent the community.
The park, which is less than 1/2 an acre in size, received its current name from its location — as it is close to both the Pulaski Bridge and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. The park was established in 1957 and consists of a basketball court and handball court.
A panel made up of community members will be in charge of picking the park’s new name based off community suggestions. The panel includes Meridith Maskara, Moitri Savard, Lakshmi Reddy, Mary Torres, Michael Son, Melissa Lirtsman, Jean Woods-Powell, Bea Murphy, and Denise Keehan-Smith.
The Parks Dept. is accepting suggestions on its website Dept. through Dec. 31. Officials are asking residents who submit a name to state what inspired them to recommend it.
“The name of a park should reflect the community it is in,” Van Bramer said. “It is important we give residents an opportunity to be part of the renaming process. I am excited about the proposed names our residents will develop.”
Park name suggestions can also be after a Long Island City resident, as long as that person was of particular importance to New York City or the neighborhood.
The Parks Depart. is asking the names suggested be positive and a “meaningful reflection of the community.”
Bridge & Tunnel Park (Google Maps)
