In reply to the letter “Treat Flushing Meadows with Respect,” the city Parks Department has worked with other city agencies, community groups and private organizations, investing more than $422 million in the past 13 years to preserve and improve Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It is one of the city's flagship parks and includes venerable cultural, educational and athletic facilities.
We are restoring and maintaining both historic and existing structures and creating new, state-of-the-art facilities which have practical uses. In February we opened the pool and rink, the largest recreation facility ever built in a city park. We are also working with the University of Pennsylvania to restore the New York State Pavilion.
A few of the recent projects in or near the park include a recreation center opening this summer, the reopening of Willow Lake landscape, the renovation of the Flushing Bay Promenade, playgrounds, ballfields, comfort stations and more.
These projects are for people who wish to enjoy Flushing Meadows' natural beauty and protect plants and animals in the park, as well as to provide visitors with recreation.
In the coming weeks, Parks will release the Flushing Meadows master plan, developed by landscape architects Quennell Rothschild & Partners and architects Smith-Miller + Hawkinson. It will recommend how to best maximize the park's potential.
Adrian Benepe
City Parks Commissioner
