Jackson Heights Life

Hello all to all who believe the Junction Boulevard area is too often neglected. We've heard you; we agree.
On Saturday, Nov. 13th, JHBG and Sen. Jessica Ramos are sponsoring a fall cleanup and greenup along Junction Boulevard that we hope will be the beginning of an ongoing effort there. Starts at 10 a.m. Meets at SW corner of 34th Avenue and Junction Boulevard.
Check out our autumn-colored poster below. Hope to see you there!

This Sunday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m.!

The next fabulous Summer Sundays in the Park show, sponsored by JHBG.

Q: Which park?
A: The wonderful Travers Park.

Napoleon Revels-Bey brings a unique sound to his jazz ensemble with the addition of the Steel Pan, an instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago.

Remember - Live music is great for kids and grownups!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1002797040530769/?ref=newsfeed

JHBG's official position on the 34th Avenue OS

The Jackson Heights Beautification Group has been advocating for neighborhood improvements and community engagement through wide-ranging popular programs serving all segments of our diverse population for more than 30 years.  We seek to continue to serve our community by bridging the current divide over the 34th Avenue Open Street program, focusing debate on helpful solutions.

Though the JHBG supports the 34th Avenue Open Street (and Open Streets in general), we recognize that some of our neighbors opposing the program are raising issues that should be addressed.  We call upon our elected officials to consider these concerns and work towards solutions that are inclusive of the area’s diverse constituents.

The 34th Avenue Open Street program represents a rare opportunity to construct a new healthful amenity that will contribute to our community’s social life.  For a New York City neighborhood short on park space, this program is a true asset.  At 1.3 miles in length, our program is one of the longest in the city.
 
The following are some of the key concerns raised by our neighbors and some suggested areas for mitigating impending challenges:

* Problems of access.
Guaranteeing unencumbered entry to buildings for disabled residents, as well as car owners with parking garages along the avenue, schools and delivery trucks, especially those serving commercial locales along 34th Avenue.

* Facilitating municipal services.
Ensuring maintenance of roads in the form of snow removal and easy access for emergency vehicles and regular sanitation services.

* The proliferation of vendors along 34th Avenue, especially those serving food.
Vending regulations, additional sanitation services and other maintenance, along with vermin abatement, are needed alongside enforcement practices for addressing related nuisances.   

* Road safety: cars, electric scooters, motorcycles, and other forms of electric transport present special hazards when mixed with pedestrians.
Clear and visible rules governing direction of travel as well as the safe separation of vehicles and pedestrians are required, as is strict enforcement of the rules.   

* Traffic congestion on adjacent streets, especially, but not limited to 35th Avenue, particularly during rush hours and late afternoons/early evenings on weekends.
A comprehensive traffic study is necessary, especially one following the city’s full reopening; measures for improving traffic flow on other streets, including retiming traffic lights; finding alternatives to private cars, including expanding Select Bus Service on Northern Boulevard.

* Serving our neglected constituents.
We recommend the reconstruction and widening of the median to improve tree survival with improvements extending to Junction Boulevard. This part of the neighborhood has a greater concentration of immigrants and elderly residents, and often receives less attention than other areas.

* Rules of conduct for unmotorized users, reducing excessive noise and illegal   behaviors.
As much as drivers and riders must meet a standard of conduct, so should pedestrians and visitors of all sorts.  With open access to greenways and increased pedestrian traffic, standards must be set and enforced to protect existing plant life and improve maintenance.

* Protecting and enhancing our median greenways.
Existing plant life is now under added stress with foot traffic from people and pets requiring signage deterring use of the garden beds, as well as a commitment from city government that in addition to the new trees scheduled this upcoming year, our medians will receive proper care and maintenance including litter cleanup and rodent control.   

Several of the points on this list require enforcement.  We are prepared to work with the relevant city agencies to help establish and guide proper behavior among the various constituents using and enjoying the Open Streets program. [/font]

Here's a good deal, unload your used books in Jackson Heights and pick up something else to read. Or just do one of the above.
The Community Book Exchange has been taking place this summer at the Jackson Heights Green Market, Sunday's from 8 a.m. to noon. See attached.
 

See you Saturday, May 11, NE corner of 37th Avenue and 80th Street. 10 a.m.
This is our usual meeting place and start time.

We are taking care of our trees and planting our curbside gardens,
creating mini-nature habitats as we turn Jackson Heights into Mother Nature's Home in the City.
We continue on SUNDAY May 19 and Saturday May 25.
Children welcome with parents. It's a great way to learn about plants and environmental resilience/sustainability in our NYC.

JHBG's Tree LC volunteers are back at it, starting:
Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. 
Meet at 80th St. & 37th Ave. 
Tree LC volunteers are out nearly every weekend, creating and maintaining our Curbside Tree Gardens and the new Post Office Garden. We work on Saturdays, with an occasional Sunday. Join us! 

Tree LC is one of two JHBG neighborhood greening programs.

Drag your Christmas Tree to Travers Park on Saturday and Sunday - and get a free bag of mulch in return.

What's more, JHBG volunteers will be working Saturday with NYC Parks to mulch nearby trees. So you can get some winter exercise (the slopes don't seem to have snow) and afterwards warm up with hot chocolate and other snacks from NYC Parks.

Starts at 10 a.m tomorrow. See you there.