After Years Of Rules, Northeast Queens Field Expands Sporting Options

QUEENS, NY — Until recently it was illegal to play cricket, soccer or flag football — among other sports — on the Padavan-Preller Fields.

The northeast Queens sporting fields, located on Hillside Avenue, were solely open for baseball and softball games under a 1980 agreement between the state and the Hollis-Bellaire-Queens Village-Bellrose Athletic Association, which owns and operates the property.

That all changed under recently passed legislation, which expands the use of the fields for sports and events other than Little League baseball.

Under the new law, the fields can be used for an array of non-professional sports — including the aforementioned once-banned activities — as well as civic, charitable, cultural, religious and educational events.

Mark McMillan, district manager of Queens Community Board 13, said expanding the fields' sporting options better reflects the diversity of the surrounding areas.

"While baseball will always be known and treasured as ‘America’s Pastime,’ newer immigrant groups have come and brought in sports that also require the use of grass fields," he said.

Similarly, Northeast Queens' State Senator John Liu, who sponsored the legislature in Albany alongside Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, said the new laws create more opportunities for Queens athletes scrambling for space.

"Any sports organizer knows that reserving a playing field in the summertime can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, due to high demand," he said.

"By opening up these nine athletic fields... we are expanding opportunities for thousands of athletes throughout Queens."

The Padavan-Preller Fields consist of nine fields in a complex located at 236-02 Hillside Avenue.

In addition to managing the fields, the Hollis-Bellaire-Queens Village-Bellrose Athletic Association maintains a parking lot, equipment room, batting cages, restrooms and a concession stand on the property.