Park in Western Queens Repaired after Years of Decay

Lawmakers and local residents gathered to celebrate the restored seawall and new waterfront promenade in Queensbridge Park on Tuesday. Construction began last year and has now officially ended.

April Simpson-Taylor has lived in Queensbridge her entire life. She said the park has always been important to the community.

"Over 20, 30 years ago I rode my first bike down here, seven or eight years old, learning how to ride a bike," Simpson-Taylor said.

She says that when she was younger, the park was beautiful and that it was a gathering place for friends and families in the area. But Simpson-Taylor said the park began to fall into disrepair and the damaged seawall made the area dangerous. She said the park was slowly falling into the river since the seawall was deteriorating.

That's why city officials got nearly $7 million to complete repairs in the park. Queens Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said repairing the park had been a top priority since he was elected nearly five years ago. 

"The park is about pride. It's about dignity. It's about love," Van Bramer said.

Van Bramer got just under $4 million from the New York City Council. The rest of the money came from the MTA, the Office of the Mayor and the Office of the Queens Borough President. They each contributed $1 million.

The seawall has been covered and reinforced with stones that will support the shore bank, absorb and reflect waves and reduce erosion. 

The project also included a new waterfront promenade and wharf, where officials said residents can go fishing.

Van Bramer has also put money into other parts of Queensbridge Park, including $2 million last year to repair the park house there and $500 thousand this year for the smaller Queensbridge "Baby" Park.