Astoria Park

NYC PARKS MEETS WITH ASTORIANS TO REPORT BACK ON ANCHOR PARK SCOPING IDEAS

Astoria Park design underway for first phase of improvements focused on the track and field

On Wednesday, January 25, NYC Parks held a Community “Report Back” Meeting for Astoria Park’s Anchor Park Project. More than 150 local residents attended the meeting held at Bohemian Hall, to learn more about the top concerns and priorities outlined by the community at a public scoping meeting held in November, and to hear how NYC Parks is planning to accommodate local interests in the proposed park master plan.

The 60-acre Astoria Park was selected as one of five parks in the city to each receive $30 million in improvements through the Mayor’s Anchor Parks program. Each Anchor Park was selected based on historical underinvestment, high surrounding population, and potential for park development. The Anchor Parks program is part of NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver’s Framework for an Equitable Future, a commitment to create thriving public spaces for all New Yorkers.
After a scoping meeting in November 2016, NYC Parks designers compiled and analyzed community input, identifying which came up the most and fit within the scope of a capital master plan. Among the chief ideas for Astoria Park were:
• Improvements to the Track and Soccer Field
• Reconstruct Charybdis Playground and add water play
• Add more gathering spaces
• Provide green infrastructure improvements, such as rain gardens and erosion control
• Improve lighting
• Add new programming and activities

Design is already underway for the first phase of renovations to the park, which will address the track and field area. The project will include a new 180’ x 360’ synthetic turf soccer field surrounded by a newly reconstructed 400 meter running track with adult fitness equipment, drinking fountains, bottle fillers and misting posts, and a new seating area with bleachers.

A preliminary design for the track and field phase will be presented to the local Community Board in March, along with a Conceptual Master Plan for the entire park. Additional phases outlined in the Master Plan will undergo their own scoping and input sessions before design begins. Potential future projects include the re-imagination of the playground and spray shower area, and the reconstruction of the Great Lawn and North Lawn.