Subcommittee Hearing on Queens CD2 Walk to Park Site Selection – July 22, 2026
Subcommittee Hearing on Queens CD2 Walk to Park Site Selection – July 22, 2026
The New York City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, Resiliency and Dispositions, chaired by Councilmember Christopher Marte, met on July 22, 2026, at 11:00 AM in a hybrid format to consider Land Use Application LU 0114-2026. The application, submitted by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation, seeks approval for the acquisition and site selection of 37 privately owned properties (7 primary vacant sites and 30 secondary built sites) for future park development in Queens Community District 2 (CD2), which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Blissville, and West Maspeth. The hearing focused on the city’s new “Walk to a Park” initiative aimed at closing open space gaps. The subcommittee heard testimony from Parks Department officials and Councilmember Julie Won, and ultimately laid over the item without a vote.
Discussion Items
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Parks Department Presentation: Colleen Alderson (Chief of Parklands and Real Estate), Gabriella Capo, and Julia Dowling presented the application. They explained that CD2 has one of the city’s lowest open space ratios (0.38 acres per 1,000 residents) and approximately 26,000 residents—out of the city’s over 1 million unserved—do not live within walking distance of a park. The initiative aims to pre‑approve site acquisition authority so that when a willing seller emerges, the city can move quickly. The 37 sites were selected based on criteria including minimum 5,000 sq ft, no active DOB permits, and suitability. A 10‑year sunset clause is included; if acquisition does not occur within that time, a new ULURP would be needed. Parks noted that a similar approach was previously approved for Brooklyn CD5 and Queens CD3 in late 2025.
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Councilmember Questions (Chair Marte relaying for Councilmember Julie Won): Chair Marte asked clarifying questions about the voluntary nature of acquisitions (all voluntary), the lack of a set annual target, and the inclusion of Industrial Business Zone (IBZ) sites (Parks confirmed they benefit workers and some residents). Councilmember Won’s questions, read by Chair Marte, sought confirmation that the application only authorizes acquisition—not development—and asked about engagement with property owners. Alderson reported that “loader letters” were sent to all owners; one property owner on Queens Boulevard expressed potential interest, another was not interested. Won also asked about funding: Parks stated they have approximately $30 million in capital funds for this effort, though more may be needed, and that additional state grants could be pursued.
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Councilmember Julie Won’s Testimony: Speaking after the panel, Councilmember Won (District 26) highlighted CD2’s severe park deficit: it ranks 57th out of 59 community districts, with only 0.38 acres per 1,000 people, falling 275 acres short of the city’s 2.5‑acre goal. She noted that Sunnyside and Woodside have the deepest deficits (128 and 122 acres of need respectively) but that only 3 of the 37 sites are in Sunnyside (all secondary sites) and 15 in Woodside (12 secondary). She expressed concern that the initiative “will have limited impact without the appropriate neighborhoods that need new parks now,” especially South Sunnyside which has zero parks. She referenced Community Board 2’s recommendations calling for baseline capital funding, broader planning with rezonings, transparency, and ongoing engagement. She concluded that while the proactive approach is welcome, the district needs parks “now, not in five to ten years.”
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public (other than Councilmember Won, who testified as the local elected official) signed up to speak. The public hearing was closed after no remote or in‑person speakers came forward.
Key Outcomes
- Hearing Held, Item Laid Over: The subcommittee heard the application and public testimony, then formally laid over LU 0114‑2026. No vote was taken. The item will be considered again at a future subcommittee meeting.
- No Immediate Acquisition Authorized: Parks officials reiterated that approval would simply grant authority to negotiate with willing sellers over the next 10 years; no parks will be built without additional capital funding and community design processes (estimated 6–12 months for acquisition, 3 years for design and construction).
Meeting Transcript
Zoom hosts, please start the webinar. Webinar started. Good morning. Welcome to the New York City Council hearing for the Committee on Landmarks, Public Sightings, Resiliency and Deposition at this time, please sign all self-electronic devices. Moving forward, no one is to proach today's chair Marty. We are ready to begin. Good morning and welcome to the meeting of the subcommittee on landmarks, public siding resiliency and dispositions. I am Councilmember Christopher Marte. I'm the chair of the subcommittee. I'm joined today by my colleagues, Councilmember Thomas Henry, who's with us virtually. Before we begin today's agenda, I will remind everyone that this meeting is being held in a hybrid format. For members of the public who wish to testify remotely, we ask that you first register online, and you may do so now by visiting www.countu.nyc.gov slash land use to sign up and then sign into the Zoom and remain signed in until you have testify. We also have Councilmember Hanks, who's online, and we've been joined in person by Councilmember OSA. For anyone with us today in person and wish to testify, if you have not already done so, please see one of the sergeants to fill out a speaker card and we'll call your name at the appropriate time. For anyone wishing to submit written testimony on the items being heard today, we ask that you please send it via email to land use testimony at council.nyc dot g-ov, including the LU number and or project name in the subject line of your email. Video and audio testimonies will not be accepted. I remind I remind members of the public that this is a governmental proceeding and that the quorum shall be observed at all times. As such, members of the public shall remain silent unless and until called to testify. The witness table is reserved for people who wish to testify. No video recording or photography is allowed from the witness table. Further, members of the public may not present audio video recording as testimony, but may submit test transcript of such recordings to the sergeant for inclusion in the hearing record. I now open a public hearing on LU 114 for Queens CD2 walk to park site selection. An application by Department of Parks and Recreation for approval of city acquisition and site selection of 21 privately owned sites for future park development in Queens Community District 2. This proposal seeks to create a new park land and to increase access to open space resources for the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunny Side, Woodside, Blessville, and West Masbeth, located at Councilmember Juan and Krishna's district. Appearing today on the panel are Conleen Alderson, Gabriella Capo, and Julia Dowling. Those wish to testify remotely must register online by visiting the council website at council.nyc.gov slash land use. Panelists, please ensure that your microphone is on. Council, would you please administer the affirmation? Um panelists, could you please raise your right hand and state your name for the record? Gabriela Capo. Julia Dowling. Colleen Alderson, do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in your testimony before the subcommittee and an answer to all council member questions? I do. I do. I do. You may now begin your testimony, which is limited to 10 minutes, and you should start to conclude your presentation after eight minutes. When you begin your presentation, please restate your name and organization. You may now begin. Hello, good morning. Uh my name is Colleen Alderson, Chief of Parklands and Real Estate for New York City Parks. Um we're happy to be here to present this ULERP application before the committee. Um we're here to present uh the neighborhood walk to a park uh Ulurp application uh covering Queen's Community District 2. Uh next slide. Um this is a map showing the gap areas um in terms of people residents that live not in walking distance to a public open space, and that is the purpose of this application to close those gaps for the applicants for this ULERP application uh along with the New York City Parks Department. The co-application co-applicant is also the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services as they play a role in the acquisition process. Again, our goal is to um increase the flexibility and likelihood of potential new park sites in an underserved district. Next slide um uh you you all are aware of this, but urban parks are very important to the city's um urban population. Um they have multifaceted benefits, uh, respite for residents. It also provides for physical and mental health benefits. New York City parks are also many environmental benefits.
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