By Bianca Fortis
A new pedestrian plaza that will be partially located in Ozone Park is expected to be completed this week, the city Department of Transportation said.
The Liberty Avenue Plaza project is part of the NYC Plaza program, the DOT said. The program’s goal is to transform underused road space to create new “multi-use community destinations,” the transit agency said.
The plaza program allows nonprofit partners to propose and apply for new plaza sites. The partners are responsible for funding as well as maintenance, which includes sweeping, watering of plants and shoveling snow.
Similar street enhancements can help increase profits for local businesses, the DOT said.
The Liberty Avenue Plaza, located on 101st Street between Drew and 75th streets, will feature CityBenches, tables, chairs and plantings.
The plaza was proposed by the Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services in Brooklyn. It will be the maintenance partner for the plaza, which crosses the Brooklyn and Queens border.
On Oct. 8, Community Board 9 approved the plaza. Brooklyn’s CB 5 has also approved it.
The project has also won the support of several local business owners as well as elected officials, such as City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Ridgewood).
Dharma Diaz, chief operating officer of BACDYS, said the idea for the plaza came after seeing what other similar plazas offered to communities, including greenspace and a community meeting place.
“This neighborhood doesn’t have a community center,” she said. “It doesn’t have a senior center. It doesn’t have a place to congregate other than churches.”
Diaz said the process to apply for the plaza is a lengthy one and the group first applied two years ago.
She said the plaza will be in place for about eight months. If local stakeholders are in favor of keeping it, the plaza can be turned into a permanent area.
Diaz said the project has offered opportunities for team building and growth within her organization as well as the chance to engage with Brooklyn and Queens residents and civic leaders.
“It’s been a beautiful experience,” she said. “I hope that more communities can identify plaza properties and move forward with the process.”
Reach reporter Bianca Fortis by email at bfortis@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
