Contact: Xavier San Miguel (718)357-3094/(917)952-0157 Wednesday, February 20, 2013

AVELLA SEEKS LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK

(QUEENS, NEW YORK) State Senator Tony Avella today asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission to review landmark designation for Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Avella stated, The 1,255 acre Flushing Meadow Corona Park is the Borough of Queens most prominent park, which 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. Due to its 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 ,it certainly qualifies as historically significant. Its importance as a Queens treasured park cannot be overstated and as such deserves landmark recognition, stated Avella. Avella is asking for the landmarking of Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the same time it 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, taking away parkland and Major League Soccer is proposing to build a stadium eliminating 13 further acres of parkland. Avella has publicly stated his strong opposition to all three proposals. Parkland is scared. 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 must 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!, Avella concluded.