The New York Construction News covering the awards event in their October 30, 1995 issue, wrote "(the) Hunters Point Community Park, the jury noted, is an example of good concrete use in an urban community setting with a variety of shapes using both precast and cast-in-place concrete... The project's purpose was to involve the neighborhood in future East River development."
Wide-eyed disbelief gave way to smiles and chuckles, when it was learned that an award was granted by the Concrete Industry Board of New York. The Coalition and the community was not surprised by this distinction since the original plans showed little landscape typical of parks. Many people, even one of the park's designers, have called it the "strip-park."
Since the project's inception in 1989, this neighborhood has been excluded from the planning process. From 1989 to 1993, former Queens West president repeatedly dismissed community suggestions. The change in administration has not resulted in much additional community input. The new president has only accepted community advice for remedying design and construction errors. These minor changes occurred only after much pressure from the 49th Avenue Block Association and the Coalition. (Recently, sheds damaged by construction workers have been fixed, a low-rise stainless steel section of the retaining wall has been raised, more trees have been planted, lighting is improved, and some of the mismatched beams, which face homes behind the park, have been painted.)
The community's involvement is essential, so that other errors like this will not happen in the future!
To contact the Hunters Point Community Coalition
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Hunters Point Community Coalition