Big Bush Playground

Design Plans Revealed For $1.8 Million Renovation To Woodside’s Big Bush Park

Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski today joined Borough President Melinda Katz and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer to unveil the design for a $1.8 million renovation of Woodside’s Big Bush Park. Due to inclement weather, the event was held indoors at the Big Six Community Center.

“NYC Parks has made it our mission to ensure that every neighborhood has access to high-quality parks, but we can’t do it alone,” said Commissioner Lewandowski. “Big Bush Park is a great example of community-led design in action, and we look forward to opening a new and improved space that reflects their vision. We’re thankful for the Borough President and Council Member’s support in creating a more equitable parks system, and for their dedication to Queens’ neighborhood parks.”

"Big Bush Park will undergo significant renovations to its playground, adult exercise equipment, game tables and more, all to be further enjoyed by the growing families of Woodside,” said Borough President Katz. “The design plans for the Big Bush Park project were in no small part due to the comprehensive input from the community, and is a perfect example of how residents can have a significant impact in beautifying our neighborhoods."

“With this funding we will change the face of this important community hub by making improvements that will expand the amount of green space throughout the park, introduce new play areas for children of all ages as well as enhance existing space for seniors and adults to enjoy,” New York City Council Majority Jimmy Van Bramer. “Every great neighborhood deserves a great park and these much-needed improvements will give generations of local residents a perfect space to enjoy the outdoors right in the heart of Woodside.”

The goal of this project is to reconstruct the paved areas in the north end of the park to better accommodate both active play and passive recreation, and to increase the amount of green, permeable surface area in the park.

The community was actively involved in shaping this project, and the scope of renovations will directly address their requests for additional planting areas, activities for a variety of park users, play swings for tots, a new spray shower in a sunny location, new drinking fountain, upgraded seating and game tables, adult exercise equipment, rejuvenated lighting, and greenery. A new central circulation path will run north of the play areas from 64th Street entrance to 61st Street, and an entry plaza off 61st Street will invite pedestrians to linger in the shade on benches and at game tables.

The project is funded with $1 million from Borough President Katz and $800,000 from Council Member Van Bramer. Construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2016.