Vallone Brings Skate Park To Astoria
BY LINDA J. WILSON

Located in Astoria Park below the Hell Gate Bridge, the facility will resemble an urban plaza.

After four years of negotiations, City Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. announced on Tuesday, March 11 that the city Department of Parks and Recreation will start work next month on a new skate park in Astoria. Vallone secured more than $1 million in city funding for the skate park, the first of its kind in New York City. Located in Astoria Park below the Hell Gate Bridge, the facility will resemble an urban plaza and offer a place for skaters to have fun and exercise without bothering pedestrians or residents or using other parks not designed for skating.

Almost four years ago, Vallone noticed that a large parcel of land underneath the Hell Gate Bridge was fenced off and full of construction equipment. Vallone discovered that the lease of the construction company using the land had expired and petitioned the Parks Department not to renew it. In July 2007, the company was told to remove its equipment, and the site was cleared and prepped for construction months later. It now sits as a vacant, open area primed for work to begin.

"This project will give kids a place to skate that is far away from the busy sidewalks and parks where they sometimes inconvenience other people, especially seniors," Vallone said."These kids will be outside, exercising and enjoying themselves. I'm happy to provide them with a venue to skate, rather than have them sit in front of a TV playing video games."

George Delis, district manager of Community Board 1, began working to bring the project to fulfillment even earlier. "I worked with the board to put this in the capital budget a dozen years ago," he said. "I'm very happy the Parks Department and Councilmember Vallone found a location for the skate park."

Delis, a former youth worker, conducted extensive negotiations with the young people who skateboard in parks throughout the district, especially Athens Square Park at 30th Street and 30th Avenue, and discovered the youths would be happy to confine their activities to a skate park designed especially for them. When Vallone secured the funding, plans for the skate park were drawn up. "I'm very happy for the kids,"Delis said. "Now, hopefully, they'll have a place where they can go, enjoy what they're doing and be safe." Athens Square Park is the site of many concerts during the summer months and, Delis pointed out, skating and skateboarding kids and concerts don't mix.

Contractors plan to break ground on the project in early May and expect to finish the project in nine months. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1.29 million. Of that budget, Vallone secured approximately $1,050,000, and the Bloomberg mayoral administration contributed the additional $250,000.

The park will have several small benches, rails and ledges, similar to those in any urban setting but specifically designed for use by skaters. No ramp will be larger than three feet high, a stipulation meant to reduce risk and large crowds. "The park is a copy of one that was built in England," Delis said. "It may well be the only one of its kind in the country."

"I have been working to bring this project to Astoria for a long time. It is fulfilling to see something go from an idea to a completion during my term as a councilmember," Vallone said. "Before, all we had here was trucks and equipment. Now, we will have a great park for kids to come and have fun."