Row New York celebrated the renovation of our new boathouse in Flushing Meadows Corona Park with a ribbon cutting this morning. At 11 a.m., dignitaries joined representatives of the three organizations that share the boathouse to mark the renovation and recall the building’s history and importance to the park.
Commissioner Adrian Benepe of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation emceed the event. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who secured the majority of the $7.3 million project’s funds, joined him. Other officials instrumental in obtaining funds for Row New York’s state-of-the-art boathouse were also in attendance: Assistant Commissioner for Queens Parks Estelle Cooper, City Council member James Gennaro, and Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. Row New York is grateful for their dedication.
We are also grateful to have the cooperation of two other organizations that use the boathouse: the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and The American Small Craft Association (TASCA).
At the ceremony, held on the expanded deck overlooking Meadow Lake, Commissioner Benepe and President Marshall lauded Row New York in particular, noting the importance of community programs that empower young women and reflect the population of Queens itself, the most diverse county in America.
Both also noted the longtime importance of the park and its offerings to the local community and even to the world. Commissioner Benepe touched on the boathouse’s original use for the 1939 World’s Fair and President Marshall drew attention to the historic decisions that were made nearby when the park was home to the original United Nations headquarters.
The new boathouse is key to improving Row New York’s programming, since the expanded deck and dock make using the space easier and winterization of the interior means year-round usage. Thanks again to the officials and partners who make Row New York’s programming possible.
Photos by Daniel Avila of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Pictured, top to bottom: the ribbon cutters, President Marshall, Commissioner Benepe.
