Clearview Park Golf Course (Facebook)
May 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
Council Member Costa Constantinides wants the public golf courses in Queens to be opened up to pedestrians so there is more room for social distancing.
Constantinides said that the open space at the golf courses would provide additional room for people to go outside and get fresh air while staying at least six feet away from one another.
Many public parks have been overcrowded in recent weeks due to the lack of open space. The Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers and NYPD have been deployed to control overcrowding at places like Astoria Park.
On Friday, the city announced its plans to restrict the number of people allowed in some parks to alleviate overcrowding.
The borough’s four public golf courses have been closed since March 22 as part of the statewide shutdown to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Council Member Costa Constantinides (Photo: CM Constantinides)
Constantinides believes the golf courses can instead be used as a creative way to unlock “pedestrian green space,” especially as the coronavirus pandemic continues into warmer months and more people will look to go outdoors.
“Golf courses throughout Queens are sitting dormant right now, which only deprives people of vast open space,” Constantinides said Monday.
“It’s on us to find those solutions so our 2.3 million residents remain healthy, and the curve flattens, as the weather gets nicer,” he said.
The borough’s four public golf courses are predominantly in Eastern Queens. There is the Clearview Park Golf Course; Douglaston Golf Course; Forest Park Golf Course; and Kissena Golf Course.
The city has already announced that 100 miles of New York City streets will be closed to vehicles and turned over to pedestrians in the coming months. The city wants the streets opened up to create extra space for pedestrians to socially distance safely.
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15 Comments
Like any idea that comes out from the far left progressive lunatics, this is a horrible idea. Golf is a game for people who understand and appreciate it. To allow hoards of people roaming the grounds will surely run the courses into complete disarray.
Trump’s playing at his personal golf course DURING a pandemic. So Trump lovers don’t want the poors coming through.
Dietmar, long history of vandalism of gravestones.
Has Costa ever played golf? If he did, he would know how much work goes into maintenance of the course. There are rules of the game and golf etiquette that restrict golfers’ behavior on the course. Or at least they should.
Allowing non-golf use would trash the course in no time, and sadly some of it would be deliberate. Not a good idea, Costa.
I applaud this initiative. We should also ask Calvary cemetery to open its gates, as well. Some might say it’s creepy, but for others it has always offered an escape from the city stress in park deprived Western Queens. But what do the “Trustees of St Patrick’s Cathedral Archdiocese of New York do” the second there is a need to check out 365 acres of green space? They close their doors: https://calvarycemeteryqueens.com/
Sorry Costa..didn’t collect any rent and have to pay the mortgage and property taxes..no money left for golf…I guess the tee times will go to all the tenants out there since you advocate that they shouldn’t pay rent!!
Tiny, cramped liquor stores are open but wide open, outdoor golf courses are too dangerous.
Well. NYS sure makes a whole lot on liquor taxes. Coincidence? You tell me.
I feel for the kids who get the and for the adults . My guess could it be from the free food giving at school .
No one is monitoring the quality or freshness of the lunches & etc.
I am all for this as long as they are pet friendly and a dog run area is provided.
I did not know Queens had golf courses. Hopefully they will provide a free shuttle bus to transport poor and minority people to the golf courses from high infected neighborhoods. Just look at how well Tiger Woods did because he was given a chance to play.
Hejin, where do you smell sanitizer? Why not buy stuff you can cook. Don’t eat raw unless packaged. It’s a fact thst food is not fresh or natural anymore but city needs to investigate why are kids getting sick as priority and stop blaming everything on coronavirus. US scts hopeless. They need to act strongly and aggressively. Too lenient! Open golf courses? Seriously. Why not open football and baseball fields too. Let’s picnic at citifield….
Time to stock up on sunscreen and fit into a bikini. Its going to be a great summer in NYC!
Thank you Costas. I am sick of virtual dating. They want more than a chat! We need a space to socialize and people can be respectful.
Please turn the golf courses into a farm. We are running out of food in our local markets. Adults and children are getting sick. Those that can afford to eat can not find anything healthy. The fruits and vegetables smell like sanitizer. I do not know if the smell is from the farms, delivery trucks or the market.
This is the type of leadership you will get when eligible voters can not or do not care to vote. Apathy has consequences people.