PARK PLAN ROLLS ONWARD

Nancy Prince of the Parks Department explains the layout of the new park being created at the former site of the Elmhurst gas tanks during last Wednesday's Community Board 5 meeting at the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council. With the first phase of the creation of a new park at the former Elmhurst gas tanks site now complete, Parks Department officials gave a look at plans for the second half during Community Board 5's Dec. 10 meeting at the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council in Glendale.

Project planners Nancy Prince and Helen Ogrinz presented a layout of the next phase of the project at the six-acre location, which will include construction of a playground, the installation of a small athletic field and other amenities.

Last Wednesday's meeting also featured an appeal by one resident to change parking regulations on a Ridgewood street, a vote on a plan to require parking spots for bicycles at commercial locations and a committee's efforts to address environmental issues locally.

Decorum at a new park

What was once a "flat site with concrete" located in the vicinity of Grand Avenue and 79th Street has been transformed over the last year into a curvy area lined with grass and hundreds of trees, Prince said. Crews contoured the entire site, correcting eroded edges of the property while also constructing a large hill, slopes and valleys.

This was created based on a technique borrowed from noted Central Park architect Frederick Law Olmstead in an effort to make the new public green seem larger to visitors than it actually is, Prince noted.

More than 500 new trees were planted throughout the grounds during the first phase of the project, Prince reported, including white oaks and crabapples. None of the species of trees are known to be susceptible to the Asian long-horned beetle that has destroyed thousands of trees across the five boroughs in recent years.

Having finished the contouring portion of the project, designers said that the department will soon begin installing and constructing fixtures and amenities for park goers of all ages to enjoy.

Prince explained that the second phase includes the creation of a playground featuring separate areas for older and younger children. In addition to swings, slides and other traditional playground features, she noted, crews will install a stationery bicycle feature—reflecting its history of being part of a utility company— that will allow youths to generate their own electricity by pedaling.

A comfort station will be built nearby along with a spray shower area that will double as a venue for small concerts and other activities when the fountain is not in use. Lamp fixtures and metal benches will also be installed at the playground, along pathways and in sitting areas.

When asked by board members about security features, Prince stated that no security floodlight fixtures are planned at this time, as all lampposts will be spaced out adequately to ensure there are no dark spots. Additionally, wrought iron gates along Grand and 57th avenues have been installed and can be locked once the park is opened.

The Parks Department will also transform an abandoned building located near the 57th Avenue gate as the maintenance and operation headquarters for the park. Additionally, Prince acknowledged that the Queens chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America is working to raise funds for the installation and construction of a Vietnam War Memorial at the top of the park's hill.

It was reported that the second phase of the project is expected to start next spring.

Parking squeeze on avenue

In an effort to provide more parking spots for local residents and visitors in Ridgewood, the president of a neighborhood catering hall asked Community Board 5 to recommend lifting parking restrictions along one area roadway.

Werner Klum of Gottscheer Hall located on Fairview Avenue implored the advisory body to ask the Department of Transportation to allow for parking on both sides of Gates Avenue between Seneca and Grandview avenues during evening and overnight hours.

Currently, parking on this section of the avenue is prohibited between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to accommodate two-way traffic and the B13 bus line which uses the roadway in both directions.

According to Klum, residents living on and around Gates Avenue—as well as patrons of Gottscheer Hall located a block away near Linden Street—are having difficulty finding parking spots close by.

Klum noted that "the city allows parking" along both sides of Forest Avenue at hours except 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. He noted that the roadway is of the same width as Gates Avenue and also has two bus routes traveling along it: the B13 and the Q39.

When asked by Board 5 member Fred Haller about how many parking spots would be gained along Gates Avenue, Klum estimated that between 70 and 150 vehicles could park along the four blocks.

Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri stated that the request would be considered by the body's Transportation Services and Public Transit committees at their next meeting.

Environmental Committee

After being dormant for many years, the Environmental Services Committee is once again active, announced its chairperson, Board 5 member Brian Dooley.

The committee held their first meeting on Monday, Dec. 8 and discussed a number of topics including local sewer improvements, environmental cleanups currently underway in the Board 5 area and exploring the use of alternative energy sources.

As for cleaning up local toxic sites, he pointed out that the committee will closely monitor activities at the former Kliegman Brothers warehouse on 77th Avenue in Glendale as well as construction efforts at the Metropolitan Avenue school complex site in nearby Forest Hills.

Bike text amendment approved

The community board also recommended approval of changes to zoning laws that would require new businesses and residences built in New York City to provide storage areas for bicycles used by customers and residents.

According to Board 5 member Donald Passantino, the text amendment to the city's zoning code is being sought as bike traffic has increased to record levels in recent years. The use of bikes as an alternative to automobiles has also been encouraged with the creation of new bike lanes on city streets and bridges.

With more people choosing to ride bikes to and from work and errands, Passantino noted, the Department of City Planning has proposed requiring all residential buildings with 10 or more units and commercial venues 7,000 sq. ft. or larger to provide parking spaces for bicycles. The spaces may be located either within the building or within an enclosed bike rack in the rear of the structure.

Demolition notices

Arcuri announced that the board has received demolition notices for the following properties:

• 71-10 52nd Ave. in Maspeth;

• 59-02 54th St. in Maspeth;

• 62-35 Forest Ave. in Ridgewood; and,

• 79-10 Cypress Ave. in Ridgewood.

Board members were advised in a memo by District Manager Gary Giordano to keep a careful eye on construction at each location and to report any suspicious activities immediately.

Liquor licenses

It was also announced that the community board has received the following alcoholic beverage license applications:

• A new liquor license for Spolem LLC, located at 66-30 Fresh Pond Rd. in Ridgewood;

• A new liquor license for New Estrella Del Mar Restaurant Corp., located at 552 Seneca Ave. in Ridgewood;

• A new liquor license for Marsel Café Pingpong Billiard Inc., located at 618 Fairview Ave. in Ridgewood;

• A liquor license renewal for Aunt Bella's Restaurant of Ridgewood, Inc., located at 64-02 Fresh Pond Rd. in Ridgewood;

• A liquor license renewal for Seneca Fiesta Corp., located at 603 Seneca Ave. in Ridgewood;

• A new wine and/or beer license for Big Apple Deli Grocery Store, located at 61-01 Grand Ave. in Maspeth;

• A new wine and/or beer license for A & J Juniors Pizza Corp., located at 71-09 Grand Ave. in Maspeth;

• A new wine and/or beer license for Nest Coffee Shop, located at 66- 32 Forest Ave. in Ridgewood;

• A wine and/or beer license renewal for W-Bedoya Import Corp., located at 56-01A Nurge Ave. in Maspeth; and,

• A wine and/or beer license renewal for Cuchulainn Inc., d.b.a. The Cornerstone Restaurant, located at 70-19 Grand Ave. in Maspeth.

Those who wish to comment on any of the above applications may do so by calling Board 5's Glendale office at 1-718-366-1834 during normal business hours.

Community Board 5 generally meets on the second Wednesday each month at 7:30 p.m. at locations in Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village. For more information, call Board 5's office at the number listed above.