In Support of the Creation of Parkland Over a Large Development in the Backyard at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
The Jackson Heights Beautification Group (JHBG) has been advancing conservation efforts in our community since 1988, resulting in the Landmarks Preservation Commission voting to designate part of our neighborhood as a historic district five years after our organization’s inception. This recognition of our area’s architectural legacy is based on exceptional structures like St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 3350 82nd Street. We recognize that small churches are struggling, and that St. Mark’s is currently in need of revenue. However, we urge the Vestry, Rector, and parishioners, as well as the Bishop of the Diocese of Long Island, to consider preservation and our community’s needs for open space instead of building another multi-story unit which would aggravate congestion and population density in an already compactly constructed area.
It is important to note that when it comes to parks, among 51 councilmatic districts, Jackson Heights is dead last.With the church’s backyard as the last open, undeveloped lot in our zip code, its preservation is of the utmost importance.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has the opportunity to assist Jackson Heights and the city at large to create open space in a metropolitan region in need of nature and parkland, in a city that has historically been a leader in park construction. With the obvious environmental, psychological, emotional, and communal benefits of park space for cities and their residents, we call on St. Mark’s to consider partnering with the local government to preserve nature in our own backyard, adding to the beauty of our neighborhood, and improving our collective health and well-being.
We ask that supporters of parkland over a large development project sign the petition promoting the construction of a park at that site:https://chng.it/tLJbPvjyxh.
Please also contact the Bishop of the Long Island Diocese to express your support of preservation and parkland construction by emailing him at lprovenzano@dioceseli.org, by calling him at (516) 248-4800 ext. 131, and/or by writing his office at The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Attn: Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano, 43 Euston Rd, Garden City, NY 11530.