On Thursday, May 18th, Community Board 3 in Queens voted unanimously to name our latest additional parkland, formerly the Garden School field, after Rory Staunton.

Letters of support were read from Congressman Joseph Crowley, Council member Daniel Dromm, Assemblyman Dendecker, Borough President Helen Marshal. The Jackson Heights Beautification Group and The Jackson Heights Green Alliance expressed their support for this.

Rory was an amazing 12 year old who attended the Garden School until his tragic death in April last year. After a fall while playing basketball during gym class at the school, a cut he received became infected with sepsis. Tragically, several days later Rory died in the hospital.

His keen political sense and his deep compassion for others are well remembered by everyone who was lucky enough to meet him, and we feel that naming the new park after him is a very fitting gesture to remember this bright young man.

We believe that it is also appropriate because Rory’s father Ciaran Staunton was instrumental in preventing the Garden School from selling their athletic field to a private developer. As a Board Member at the school, he was often the only person voting to try to prevent the sale from taking place. He believed that a park was the right use for this space, and the right move for the school, and he fought for that. When all seemed hopeless, Rory pushed his father to redouble his efforts, and with his help, the Jackson Heights community and political leadership succeeded in our dream.

So it is thanks to Rory, his sister Kathleen, parents Ciaran and Orlaith that today we have a new parkland there and not a 10 story apartment building, and it is time to show our gratitude to a family that has suffered so much, and also given so much.

For more information on Rory Staunton and the foundation set up in his name, go here: www.rorystaunton.com

When our community comes together - anything is possible. We were able to create the 78th Street Play Street (and the now permanent plaza there) and we were able to orchestrate the Parks Dept purchase of the Garden School lot because our community got educated, got organized, and got involved.

Our community needs to come together again. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is under siege with three corporate development proposals that, if approved, will harm the park and potentially destroy its usefulness to the community as a public green space. The proposals to build a shopping mall, a soccer stadium, and an expanded USTA site will reduce this already vulnerable park to being merely a corporate sports complex that is increasingly dominated by automobiles and trucks.

But we can make a difference. Just like we did with the PlayStreet and the Garden School field.

We need you to come out on Monday, April 22nd at 7:30pm to the Queens Museum of Art for a community workshop on Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. This is your opportunity to share your vision for this park. This is your chance to make sure that elected officials understand that we want to improve the park, not destroy it.

This workshop is interactive by design. It will feature a personalized, small group setting to allow for individuals to share their ideas and explore potential improvements.
Please make every effort to attend this important community event. The future of our park depends on it.
 
Our Park. Our Future.

A Community Workshop on Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Share Your Vision for Our Park
Monday, April 22nd 7:30pm
Queens Museum of Art
Free and Open to All
Language Translation Provided
Sponsored by the Fairness Coalition of Queens
We hope to see you there.