March 12, 2015 By Michael Florio
It’s been years in the making but the amphitheater will finally be coming to Astoria Park.
The long-awaited amphitheater is expected to transform the defunct diving pool into an outdoor performance space. The Parks Department said the final design will be completed by the end of the month, with construction to start next year.
The final design was expected to have been completed by October 2013, but problems such as obtaining materials and the need for grading led to delays.
The amphitheater is expected to be complete about 12-18 months after the 2016 groundbreaking, according to the parks department.
It will be a dedicated space for arts, culture and performances and will become a centerpiece of the park.
“It will have the East River, Triborough Bridge, and the skyline of the city as a backdrop,” said a parks department spokesperson.
“It will also integrate Astoria’s largest open green space with Queens’ artistic community,” said Councilman Costa Constantinides.
Former Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and former City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. funded the project.
One Comment
I was born in Astoria and the park has played a big part in my life. Happy to see this coming to our park.