Flushing Meadows Corona Park

How was this facility created?

The Frank J. Ricotta Maintenance Compound is part of the Al Oerter Recreation Center complex, which opened in 2009. The center was built through an agreement with the City’s Department of Environmental Protection, which manages the Flushing Bay Combined Sewer Overflow Retention facility located under the buildings and adjoining soccer field.

The maintenance compound houses equipment, supplies, borough crews, and administrative offices for NYC Parks.

Who is this facility named for?

This building is named for Frank J. Ricotta (1961-2021), a dedicated second-generation NYC Parks employee.

Ricotta was born and grew up in Rosedale, Queens. He displayed musical talent early, learning the guitar, tenor saxophone, and piano. He joined a 25-piece band that played bandshells throughout the city and Long Island. He met his wife Kat in 1981 and they raised their four children in Malverne, Long Island.

Ricotta joined NYC Parks in 1983 and rose to the level of Park Supervisor while at the agency. During his time at NYC Parks, he worked throughout the city, but spent the last decade of his career stationed at this facility in Queens with the Borough Crews office, which manages borough-wide maintenance and special projects. Though an Employee of the Year recipient, Ricotta was humble about his accomplishments and quick to acknowledge his teammates. Throughout his career, he mentored dozens of NYC Parks employees—a dedication to the job matched by his tattoo of the parks department’s leaf logo. Known as the “Music Man,” he also shared his musical talents with his coworkers, regularly DJ-ing agency events. He retired from Parks in 2018 but continued to share his years of wisdom with colleagues.

Know Before You Go

World's Fair Marina

Flushing Meadows Corona Park