Queensbridge Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, October 26, 2006

Feelin’ Groovy At Queensbridge Park

Photo by Daniel Avila

On October 18, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Member Eric Gioia, Congress Member Carolyn Maloney, District Manager of Community Board 1 George Delis and children from All Children’s Child Care to cut the ribbon on $1.45 million in improvements to Queensbridge Park.  Borough President Marshall and Council Member Gioia each allocated $700,000 and Assembly Member Cathy Nolan allocated $50,000 for the renovations to this waterfront park.
 
“In recent years, Queensbridge Park has been transformed into a park characterized by a variety of recreational facilities,” said Commissioner Benepe. “Named for the nearby Queensboro Bridge, which was made famous by Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Feelin’ Groovy,’ the park now offers its frequenters even more groovy facilities with its new synthetic field and volleyball courts.”

In addition to a new synthetic turf multi-purpose field and two synthetic turf volleyball courts, the park has been further enhanced with increased greenery, picnic benches, grills, an irrigation system and pathways.  These new facilities add to the existing baseball fields, wading pool, playground, comfort station and handball courts. 

This past summer, City Parks Foundation kept park-goers busy with a free performance series and educational opportunities.  Partnerships for Parks has also been consistently involved in park improvements at Queensbridge Park.  Throughout the year, they work with the Friends of Queensbridge Park and other organizations to support volunteer and community interests in the park, not only on It’s My Park! Day, but all year long as part of the Astoria/Long Island City Catalyst Project. 

The facilities, programming and dedication to Queensbridge Park make it a neighborhood haven where residents can enjoy the waterfront and spectacular views of Manhattan’s skyline.

Queensbridge Park is named for the nearby Queensboro Bridge, which is also known as the Queensbridge or 59th Street Bridge.  The 1960s musicians Simon and Garfunkel made the bridge famous in their song “Feelin’ Groovy,” also called “The 59th Street Bridge Song.”  The City of New York acquired the land that is now Queensbridge Park in 1939.

The upgrades to Queensbridge Park do not stand alone in the borough of Queens. Since 2002, Parks & Recreation has invested $155 million in Queens parks. There is also currently an additional $75 million in design or planning as well as $66 million in active construction to be completed over the next two years.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.”

Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel
The 59th Street Bridge Song