CB1 voted 30-2 to send a letter to NYC Parks opposing a plan to let a private concessionaire winterize and charge for eight or more Astoria Park courts; opponents say the move would reduce free, spontaneous access and make courts unaffordable for many residents.
CB1 voted 30-2 to oppose the Parks Department’s plan to award a concession to operate winterized tennis courts at Astoria Park.
The proposal would winterize at least eight courts with a plastic bubble, allow a private operator to charge fees, and include a long-term concession term described in the RFP.
The Parks Department issued a request for proposals (RFP) after community members circulated a petition in support of a seasonal enclosure. The RFP seeks a concessionaire to erect a plastic "bubble" over some courts for winter play. The bubble would be seasonal, coming down in summer, and the concessionaire would run several courts year-round under the terms laid out in the RFP.
More than two dozen residents spoke against the concession at the CB1 meeting. Speakers included regular tennis players and residents who said free access to courts made the sport available to people with limited means. Personal accounts included a player who learned tennis on free outdoor courts and a resident who used the courts as a form of coping after a miscarriage.
A local group, Pop the Astoria Bubble, coordinated opposition through social media and distributed buttons reading "Keep Parks Public." A petition backed by Pop the Astoria Bubble, the NYC Democratic Socialists of America chapter, and the Astoria Trash Club had gathered over 3,800 signatures by the time of the meeting.
CB1 had previously provided feedback to Parks, including requests that would limit the number of courts a concessionaire could operate and give the board a chance to review any contract before signing. Parks closed the RFP and is reviewing bids, according to CB1's Parks Committee chair, Richard Khuzami. CB1 chose to send the opposition letter instead of tabling a vote to review the RFP in more detail.
If Parks awards a concession consistent with the RFP, at least part of Astoria Park's winter court access could move behind a fee structure operated by a private company. Residents who value free or low-cost spontaneous access to public courts are likely to continue opposing the plan and to press CB1 and elected officials to influence Parks' final decision.
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