Detective Keith L Williams Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, August 14, 2006

Detective Keith L. Williams Park Is Ready And Set For Track & Field

photo by Daniel Avila

On July 28, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined City Council Member Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., former City Council Member Archie Spigner, Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, and kids from City Parks Foundation’s CityParks Track & Field program and Parks’ Summer Sports Experience program to celebrate the grand opening of Detective Keith L. Williams Park’s new track and synthetic turf playing field.  City Council Member Comrie allocated $3 million and Mayor Bloomberg added $130,000 for the track and playing field.

“We are thrilled to cut the ribbon on the track and playing field in honor of Detective Keith L. Williams,” said Commissioner Benepe.  “Detective Williams was dedicated to his police work as well as to this park, where he started the Keith Round Ball Classics basketball tournament.  Thanks to the backing of Council Member Comrie, we have been able to build top-rate athletic venues here that will improve the quality of life in this Queens community.”

With a shot from the starter pistol, participants from CityParks Track & Field and Sports Experience tested the new track and raced across the inaugural finish line.  Queens definitely boasts some budding track stars who left Commissioner Benepe in the dust—but he was without his running shoes.  Following several heats, the track teams and other local teams, such as the Jamaica Bulldogs, eagerly gathered for photos with Commissioner Benepe and other local officials.   
Many residents have already taken to the track.  In addition to the CityParks Track & Field program and the Sports Experience program, seniors and local walking groups have found it to be a great place to get in shape.  Local schools are also looking forward to holding their track meets at the Park this fall.

Prior to the renovations, the track was cracked and roots from the beautiful surrounding trees had begun to uplift the track. Today it is a smooth, all-weather track.  The new synthetic turf field will also host football, soccer and baseball games.

In addition to the new track and field, Detective Keith L. Williams Park contains a variety of recreational facilities including Liberty Pool, which also received renovations last summer with funds allocated by Council Member Comrie, four handball courts, two basketball courts, ten tennis courts, a playground, a spray shower, and the Detective Keith L. Williams Recreation Center.

The Park was renamed in 1991 in honor of Detective Keith L. Williams, a Jamaica resident and dedicated police officer, who lost his life in the line of duty.  It had previously been named Liberty Park, for one of the streets that bounds it.  The site was acquired by the City in September, 1936.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

Lewis Carroll
(1832 – 1898)