QUEENS, NY – Costa Constantinides on May 11 called on the City of New York to open Queens’ public golf courses to open to the public, which would provide more pedestrian space for residents to keep a safe distance from one another while getting fresh air.

“Golf courses throughout Queens are sitting dormant right now, which only deprives people of vast open space,” said Costa Constantinides, progressive Democrat for Queens Borough President. “Instead of targeting black and brown communities through this crisis, the City should be focused on creative ways to unlock open space for people to safely get fresh air. 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.” 

Elected officials, from the Governor down, have urged New Yorkers to exercise caution while getting fresh air throughout the pandemic. Yet a lack of enough open space has led to overcrowding at public facilities such as Astoria Park, which has led to ramped up Parks Enforcement Patrol and NYPD deployment. The City announced Friday it would limit the number of people at certain New York parks along the Hudson and East Rivers. 

Queens is tied with the Bronx for the most public golf courses in New York City controlled by the Department of Parks & Recreation. Constantinides argued the four courses — Clearview Park Golf Course, Douglaston Golf Course, Forest Park Golf Course, and Kissena Golf Course — should be opened as pedestrian greenspace. All four of these public facilities have sat locked up since the apex of COVID-19’s grip on New York City. Opening them up would provide Queens residents with swaths of extra park land to keep at least six feet from others while getting fresh air. 

Still, Constantinides urged residents of Queens, the epicenter of COVID-19’s wrath, to stay home as much as possible, cover their face when they know they will not be able to practice social distancing, and remain vigilant. 

Costa Constantinides currently serves in the New York City Council, where he represents western Queens and chairs the Committee on Environmental Protection. His legislative accomplishments include the Climate Mobilization Act, a Green New Deal for New York City, as well as the historic 80% reduction by 2050 of carbon emissions commitment. Costa lives in his native Astoria with his wife and son. 

For more information, visit:www.votecosta.com.