City breaks ground on Juniper Valley Park project
$2M renovation plan for Middle Village staple includes new spray shower, accessibility features
BY MARK HALLUM
The city Parks Department
brought out the golden
shovels for a ground breaking
ceremony for $2 million
worth of improvements at
Juniper Valley Park Dec. 12
with elected officials.
The installation of a spray
shower in the Juniper North
Playground and new accessibility
features for people with
disabilities officially started
in October and will serve the
community for years to come,
according to City Councilman
Robert Holden and Assemblyman
Brian Barnwell.
“Temperatures might be in
the 30s today, but that won’t
stop us from celebrating a
brand new spray shower coming
to Juniper Valley Park!”
Parks Commissioner Dorothy
Lewandowski said. “Once
complete, this project will
bring an interactive spray
shower zone that kids of all
ages can enjoy. The entry to
Officials break ground on the renovation project at Juniper Valley Park.
the spray shower zone will
also be opened up so that it’s
accessible for people in wheelchairs,
or parents bringing
their little ones in strollers.”
Different shades of concrete
will mark different age range
zones in the spray area, which
will be open year-around according
Parks. New drainage
in the spray area will prevent
buildup of standing water.
The entrances to the park
will also be put at grade and
widened to make the green
space fully accessible to both
Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks
wheelchairs and strollers.
“Juniper Valley Park is a
multi-generational park and
a beloved part of the neighborhood,
especially its shuffleboard
and bocce courts,
tracks, ballfields and playground,”
Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz said.
“The investment of public
funds to improve the accessibility
and play area of Juniper
Valley Park will be enjoyed
by the growing families
of Middle Village.”
According to the Parks
Department, the Brennan
Field running track near 71st
Street and Lutheran Avenue
will be reconstructed in the
summer of 2020 through $4.6
million in procurement from
the City Council.
“Juniper Valley Park is and
has been for many years the
crown jewel park of the district,”
City Councilman Robert Holden
said. “This $2 million investment
fixes one of the nagging
problems we’ve had at the park
for decades. The spray shower
will be a beautiful addition to a
great park.”
Reach reporter Mark Hallum
by e-mail at mhallum@
cnglocal.com or by phone at
(718) 260–4564.
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Wishing everyone a
Merry Christmas,
and a Happy
and Healthy
New Year.
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159-53 102nd Street
Howard Beach, NY 11414
(718) 738-1111
(718) 322-5760 FAX
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Middle Village, NY 11379
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