Queens Capital Budget Priority Requests Go To Mayor
BY JOHN TOSCANO

A multi-million dollar package of priorities for public construction projects in Queens was approved by the Borough Board and submitted to Mayor Michael Bloomberg for inclusion in his executive budget, Borough President Helen Marshall announced.

The City Council must approve the 2008- 09 spending plan by July 1, the start of the fiscal year.

One of the major appropriations being sought is $31 million for libraries throughout the borough. Among the projects covered is construction of the Children's Library Discovery Center in Jamaica, new branch library buildings in Elmhurst and Far Rockaway and a library to serve thousands of new residents in the Queens West development in Long Island City.

Colleges in the borough are high on the list of major projects also, Marshall said. Among these are $4.7 million for a new gymnasium floor and bleachers at Queens College; $2.1 million for a new biology lab and so-called "Smart Classrooms", equipped with computers and projectors, at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City; $3.5 million for the Holocaust Resource Center at Queensborough Community College in Bayside, and $10 million for lighting improvements, new fences and other amenities at York College in Jamaica.

Boroughwide Parks Department projects include: $5 million for a new building at the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) in Bayside; $450,000 for street trees in Ridgewood, and $500,000 for improvements at the South Queens Park Association.

Another major capital request is $18.5 million for the New York Hall of Science for more program and exhibition space.

In Astoria, the Museum of the Moving Image (MMI) needs $10 million for a major expansion, and the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum in Long Island City needs $1 million for general improvements. Flushing Town Hall needs $400,00 for a new garden and other renovations.

The Association for Neurologically Impaired Brain Injured Children in Bayside has requested $250,000 for main office renovations; Forest Hills H.S. needs $200,000 for an auditorium upgrade, and funding is needed for building renovations and expansion of the South Queens Boys and Girls Club.

Rockaway Development and Revitalization requested $700,000 for computer upgrades and upgrade to its Employment Services Program facility, and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation needs $3 million to create more off street parking spaces.

The capital projects requested by each Community Planning Board follow.

Community Board 1: Upgrades, including a roof restoration project, at Astoria pool ($2.5 million), upgrades and new HVAC system for comfort station at St. Michael's Playground ($2 million), and upgrades at Astoria Park Field House ($750,000).

Community Board 2: Rehabilitation and new landscaping for Windmuller Park ($1.4 million) and upgrades and new landscaping for Murray Playground ($850,000).

Community Board 3: Upgrades for Fisher Pool ($875,000); four volleyball courts and landscaping for Hinton Park ($425,000) and upgrades for Corona Golf Playground ($750,000).

Community Board 4: Redesign existing playground and install new play equipment and safety surfacing at Moore Park ($1.7 million) and new play equipment and safety surfacing at Veterans' Grove Playground ($600,000).

Community Board 5: Playground and upgrades at Reiff Playground ($1.25 million), upgrades at Juniper Valley Park and improved entrance to Pulles Cemetery ($800,000) and renovation of path system at Highland Park ($475,000).

Community Board 6: Enhance Under Bridge Dog Run ($375,000), replace play equipment and install new safety surface at Real Good Playground ($650,000) and repairs and enhancements at Pebblestone Triangle.

Community Board 7: Install new running track and football field lights and bleachers at College Point Sports Complex ($5.5 million), reconstruct path from 212th Street to Utopia Parkway at Little Bay Park ($1.7 million) and re-pipe lake outflow at Bowne Park Lake ($350,000).

Community Board 8: Upgrade three ballfields off Union Turnpike at Cunningham Park ($2.7 million), replace play equipment and provide safety surface at McLaughlin Playground ($450,000) and replace play equipment and safety surface at Briarwood Playground- J.H.S. 217).

Community Board 9: Enhancement and repairs at Smokey Oval Park ($750,000), reconstruct asphalt field with new basketball courts at Maurice Fitzgerald Playground ($650,000) and upgrade asphalt paths and provide new drainage at southeast corner of Forest Park ($750,000).

Community Board 10: Upgrades and proper drainage at Tudor Park ball field ($1.5 million).

Community Board 11: Restoration of the seawall and development of North Park at Fort Totten ($3 million) and conversion of four turf ball fields to synthetic ($5 million).

Community Board 12: Upgrade asphalt field and install new basketball backstops and exterior painting at Howard Von Dohlen Playground ($1 million), restoration of North Education Room at Rufus King Manor ($275,000); and upgrade of comfort station and HVAC system at Daniel O'Connell Comfort Station ($1.7 million).

Community Board 13: Renovation of six tennis courts, replacement of fencing and upgrade for handball courts at Alley Pond Park ($950,000), upgrade of comfort station at Bellerose Playground- P.S. 133 ($450,000) and upgrades at Veterans Triangle ($250.000).

Community Board 14: Upgrades for Lanett Playground ($2.2 million), upgrades for Cardozo Playground ($1.3 million) and upgrades to handball courts and fencing from Beach 74th Street to 102nd Street.