$1.5M to study the Passerelle

From the Daily News:

Many visitors to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will find themselves crossing a rundown wooden walkway, but few will be aware of its significance.

It’s the Passerelle Pedstrian Bridge, and it is a little-known portion of Queens’ past. And now, the 74-year-old connector is slated to receive a major overhaul.

The city is conducting a $1.5 million, 18-month assessment of the World’s Fair-era wooden esplanade, which leads riders of the 7 train into Flushing Meadows-Corona Park near the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, officials said.

The years have not been kind to the heavily trafficked pathway. The city is trying to determine the cost and scope of a complete reconstruction.

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World's Fair statue being restored

From the Daily News:

For the first time in almost 50 years, gold stars are shining above the towering Rocket Thrower in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

The bronze statue, crafted for the 1964 World’s Fair, has been reborn, thanks to a meticulous restoration that is in its final phase.

More than 40-feet tall, the artwork evokes both Space Age and Classical imagery with its a male figure launching a rocket into space — a constellation of stars at his fingertips.

When sculptor Donald De Lue’s artwork was unveiled at the fair, it was derided by some critics. But then-Parks Commissioner and World’s Fair mastermind Robert Moses rushed to its defense.

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LPC rejects Avella's landmarking request for Flushing Meadows

From Save FMCP:

Senator Tony Avella was joined last Friday by preservationists and several area civic groups at a press conference protesting the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s (LPC) decision to reject landmark designation for Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP).

The 1,255 acre Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is the Borough of Queens’ most prominent park and provides open space and recreational benefits to thousands of borough residents and low and middle income families. The Park is a valuable asset for the City and the residents of Queens not only because of its green space and natural areas, but also due to its embodiment of historical structures and leading cultural and educational institutions. The Park also has a unique history, serving as host to two World Fairs in 1939 and 1964, plus hosting the General Assembly of the United Nations from 1946 to 1950.

That is why, earlier this year, Avella asked LPC to review landmark status for Queens’ most prominent and historic park, which is under the threat of devastating development interests. Currently, the Mets organization is floating the idea of building a Mall in the park, the United States Tennis Association is proposing to expand and Major League Soccer is still interested in building a stadium that would further eliminate parkland.

Unfortunately, LPC recently denied this request and indicated that the park did not meet the criteria for designation.

Avella stated, “I am very disappointed in the Landmark Preservation Commission’s decision to not designate Flushing Meadows Corona Park as a landmark. It is clear to me that with its rich history and importance as Queens’ most significant and treasured park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park deserves landmark recognition, especially now. With three separate development proposals threatening to take away valuable parkland, Flushing Meadows Corona Park needs to be preserved now more than ever.”

“Parkland is sacred,” continued Avella. “The City should not be entertaining these proposals which would radically reduce open and recreational space for the hundreds of thousands of Queens residents who use this park on a yearly basis. Instead, the City should landmark this vital borough park to ensure its continued usage for generations to come and send a clear message that parkland is not for sale!”

“That is why I am calling on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to immediately reconsider their decision and demand that they hold a public hearing on this important issue. At the very least, the residents of Queens deserve to have their voices heard,” concluded Avella.

I guess the only surprise here is that the Parks Department turned the Unisphere fountains on a full month before the US Open.

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All-Star Game advertises crumbling World's Fair

"So it's bad enough that the City of New York gave the Mets owners property worth $200 million for the paltry sum of $1. Now the Mets are incorporating World's Fair icons into their merchandising efforts to promote the 2013 MLB All Star Game being played at Citifield in mid-July. What really irks me about this is the New York State Pavilion is in a deteriorated condition that needs immediate remediation. With all the money that they'll be making, don't you think it would be appropriate to "step up to the plate" and repair the icon before it's too late? It can be a jewel in the Queens crown if done right. But then again...this is Queens!" - Alan

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