ICYMI: Douglaston Residents Need $2M To Turn Lot Into Park, Officials Say

DOUGLASTON, QUEENS — An empty, overgrown Douglaston lot could be transformed into a park – if the community can raise $2 million to pay for it.

Mayor Bill de Blasio gave permission for State Senator Tony Avella and other community members to take over the space at 39th Avenue and 234th Street, which currently belongs to the city's Housing and Preservation Department and has been unoccupied for more than 50 years.

But the city won't fund changing the space into a park.

In the '60s the city condemned the lot so that 39th Road could be extended, according to Avella's office. The project was never carried out, but the lot remained empty.

“For 10 to 15 years, the community and I have been asking the City to transform this vacant lot of city-owned land into a greenspace that the entire community can benefit from," said Avella during a rally Monday.

"The City needs to do right by this community and allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to turn this space into an amenity that will be enjoyed by all."

Mayor de Blasio agreed that it could become a park after the rally, a spokesman for Avella said.

But just transferring ownership from HPD to Parks would cost $2 million, he said.

Avella was told he would have to raise the money, his office said.

“Around here there are no real public spaces," said President of Doug-Bay Manor Association Colette Wong.

"Our community is aching for a place where we can go, relax, and enjoy leisurely activities with our kids and the community."

Lead image courtesy of Tony Avella's office