Seventy years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt and 600,000 people gathered in Flushing Meadows Corona Park to open New York’s World Fair, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall will join with other government and Parks Department officials to break ground, Monday, November 16th at 11 a.m. for a multimillion dollar renovation of the boathouse and dock that are relics of the 1939 “World of Tomorrow.”


“After years of planning, scoping and designing, we are ready to begin this much-needed renovation that will include restoration of the roof, windows and façade of the structure, along with new public bathrooms,” said Marshall.


The Borough President provided $3.5 million for the rehabilitation of the boathouse and an additional $2 million for the new dock. “This allocation is an example f how the borough president’s office can demonstrate a firm commitment to a capital project funded through multiple fiscal years,” said Marshall.



Since coming into office in 2002, Marshall has allocated $52 million to capital projects in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.



The interior of the boathouse will also be reconfigured to enable three boathouse users, Row New York, which administers a competitive rowing and academic program for high school girls; The American Small Craft Association (TASCA), a sailing club and school that teaches basic sailing skills; and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat festival, an organization that utilizes 28 boats that need off-site storage, to utilize the structure. Marshall has provided an additional $121,000 in capital funding for temporary storage space and contingencies.


Additional amenities will be added, and the dock will be re-decked with recycled plastic lumber and expanded.



Construction will take 18 months with work expected to be completed in the spring of 2011.



“I was happy to partner with the City Council, and particularly Councilmember James Gennaro on this project.



The original boathouse and adjoining dock were built in 1939 as part of the Meadow Lake Development, a permanent structure of the ‘39 Fair. During the 1964 World’s Fair, the boathouse structure was used as a restaurant.



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