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

Before and After Photos from CURES - Good News, so far...

Click here to view these pictures larger

Before and After Photos

Wednesday, March 9th

Today was the beginning of what Glendale has been longing for, the start of some permanent change along the rail corridor. Parks Dept was on the scene pruning and initiating what needs to be done to make the area look presentable.

CURES (Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions) and FOCA (Farmers Oval Civic Association) are recipients of the  LOVE MY BLOCK grant  from the Citizens Committee of NYC. This grant is accompanied with the service of the NYC Dept of Sanitation, NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation, and Dept of Transportation. In addition they have also received  the Keep America Beautiful Grant.  CURES selected to beautify and revitalize  the areas along Shaler Ave from Cypress Hills Street to Catalpa Ave (Mafera Park). Master Gardner Harry Muller will be the lead on this project designing and implementing the planting and landscaping. The project will take place in three phases with the help of CURES leaders comprised of 14 civics, Waste Management, Inc and New York and Atlantic Railroad company. 

Phase 1  Saturday April 9 10am  there will be a clean up of the area.

Phase 2 Saturday April 30 with the planting and seeding.

Phase 3. Celebration and last minute touch ups.  

If you would like to volunteer please contact Mary Parisen 718 772 6563, 

Laura Zimmmer 718 812-0519 or Dieter Vey 718 386-1216.