Volunteers Needed for April 30th - Keep America Beautiful Planting in Farmers Oval, Glendale, Queens

On Saturday, April 30th, volunteers will come together starting at 10 AM at the corner of Shaler Ave. & 65th adjacent to NYC's Mafera Park to complete the second phase of a community beautification project in Farmers Oval. The project will transform this neglected NYC DOT property into a green streets project.


The April 30th event involves planting trees, shrubs, and other plants. Tools will be provided. individual volunteers and groups are cordially invited to participate. Volunteers are still needed. Scouts and students can earn volunteer service hours through their participation.

Volunteers should call CURES Co-Chair Mary Parisen at 718-772-6563.

There will be a third event on May 14th (rain date May 15th) when volunteers will complete any remaining cleaning and planting and celebrate the completion of the project adjacent to Mafera Park. Additional cleanup and planting later this spring will beautify the corner of Cypress Hills and Shaler. $6,000 in grant funds has been received for these projects: $1,000 from LOVE YOUR BLOCK/Citizens Committee for NYC, and $5,000 from Keep America Beautiful/Waste Management. The funding received is being used mainly for plantings that will permanently beautify the area.

The public-private partnership that is making these improvements possible includes the following individuals and organizations:

• CURES (Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions)
• FOCA (Farmer's Oval Civic Association)
• Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corp.
• Harry Muller (Master Gardner)
• Citizens Committee for NYC/LOVE YOUR BLOCK grant program
• NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
• NYC Department of Transportation
• NYC Department of Sanitation
• Grow NYC
• Waste Management/Keep America Beautiful grant program
• Glendale Volunteer Ambulance
• Anthony Tranchina Contracting Corp.
• LIRR/ MTA New York & Atlantic Railway
• NYPD
• Hunter College School of Social Work internship program