ARROW News

In 2007, ARROW completed a new cleaning and greening initiative in Western Queens - 48th Street  Sunnyside Cleanup and Improvement Project.  We were actively involved with the Waterfront Parks Alliance, and Partnerships for Parks in the ongoing East River Cleanup.  Volunteers from ARROW participated at ITS MY PARK Day planting bulbs, and worked to publicize MulchFest- an event held in Astoria Park to collect and chip Christmas trees into mulch.  
 ARROW Park and the ongoing ARROW Community Garden had a great 2007 season and many of our gardeners plan on returning.  Currently ARROW is working on a proposal to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in hopes of expanding the ARROW Community Center to include an environmental education center and roof garden, and to create more recreation space for the community.

"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them."  
- Albert Einstein


More Parks and Recreation News

  ARROW Park  

  Astoria Waterfront Parks 


48th Street Cleaning and Greening Project  
   
Over the last year ARROW has made big strides towards solving a chronic litter, dumping and sanitation problem on 48th Street and Northern Boulevard and the residential neighborhoods of Sunnyside and Woodside. 

Our goal was to clean up and sustainably restore a highly traveled and  neglected walkway and focus attention on a wider problem of littering,  unsanitary conditions, and a lack of  city services in a 3 block area.  To address the problem, ARROW approached the large retail chain stores on 48th. Street to become sponsors of the project and help to pay for paving stones and landscaping.  We also worked to build cooperation between DSNY, Community Boards 1 and 2, Councilman Eric Gioia, neighborhood associations , school volunteers and local residents. 

The project is a tremendous success!  Over $7,000.00 of funds and in-kind donations were raised.  With the hands-on help and hard work of residents and volunteers from P. 933Q Vocational Program in Long Island City High School and the professional services of Artistic Masonry, a 170' length of the worst block was weeded, paved and planted!   As of now, ARROW is working with Community Boards and officials to expand DSNY service and to install permanent trash receptacles. Read article:
        
   http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm  
        

 East River Clean Up 2007

ARROW held the first East River Cleanup in Astoria Park in 2000 in conjunction with the American Littoral Society.  Since then, especially through the efforts of Partnerships for Parks, the event continues and attracts more and more people to care for our shoreline.

 On September 17, 2007 over 125 people from Astoria and Long Island City along with friends from the rest of NYC came together to clean up the banks of the East River. Volunteers collected over 130 bags of garbage, 25 shopping carts, 15 bicycles, and a dumpster-load of other debris in conjunction with the American Littoral Society's Coastal Cleanup Day. This amazing project is only one event hosted by a growing collaborative of local people dedicated to improving our waterfront parks, waterways, and waterfront as a whole.

With the support of the Astoria/Long Island City Catalyst Project of Partnerships for Parks,  City Year New York, Friends of Queensbridge Park Committee, Goodwill of Greater New York and New Jersey, Greater Astoria Historical Society, Long Island City Community Boathouse, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, Phoenix House, Socrates Sculpture Park, The Brain Bridge, and ARROW, the event was a huge success!

ARROW Volunteers Receive Emerald Award
  This fall, ARROW President Clare Doyle and Vice President Sandra Robishaw received the Queens Coalition of Parks  2007 Emerald Award.  This award is given for outstanding volunteer efforts contributing to our parks and green spaces in Queens. 

(Left) This vibrant mural is a showpiece of the ARROW Community Garden, and was was done by teens from Long Island City High School. ARROW continues to engage other educational and environmental groups to get involved in projects to build community and improve our environment.