Jackson Heights to get first-ever local community center

Jackson Heights will get its first-ever community center and its first-ever public pool thanks to a new project announced on Wednesday. Rendering via the City Council

By Ryan Schwach

Jackson Heights, one of Queens’ most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, is known for its plethora of cultural shops and restaurants, but has long lacked much-needed community space, officials say.

But that will soon change.

On Wednesday, officials announced plans to remedy that issue with $34 million in funding from the city and state to build a Boys & Girls Club community center in the heart of Jackson Heights.

The center will be the first-of-its-kind in the neighborhood, and, according to Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, who has long championed the idea, it will also be the largest ever investment in community infrastructure in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.

“We've needed a community center for decades,” Krishnan said Wednesday. “Delivering on this promise was one of my top priorities, and here we are today. This has truly been a labor of love for our community and something that we've been working on well before me.”

The community center will be built on busy 34th Avenue near Paseo and Travers Parks, across the street from an elementary school.

“I see this community center as a space for our littlest New Yorkers to make lifelong friends, find their talents and dreams, and know that our city is made for them,” Krishnan said. “Our community center delivers on the promise that New York City will do, and New York State will do everything we can to give New Yorkers the tools they need to stay in our city and make it better and more affordable for generations to come.”

The community center will be operated by Variety Boys & Girls Club, which is run by former Councilmember Costa Constantinides. It will include the first community pool in Jackson Heights, an indoor gym with basketball courts, and an auditorium-style theater.

Upon its completion, it will be able to serve up to 10,000 local children.

Funding for the center comes from nearly $10 million from the City Council, $2 million from New York’s Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and additional funding from other local elected officials. Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park gave $10 million to purchase the land where the center will be built.

Krishnan’s office said the $33.8 million that has been allocated so far is enough to get shovels in the ground, but that it will cost around $60 million in total to pay for the design, construction, and programming at the center.

There is no timeline for when the center will be completed.

More announcements about funding and the timeline will come in the near future, according to Krishnan’s office.

On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul, who is less than a month away from what could be a contentious Election Day, allocated an additional $10 million.

“Community center is not just a word; it's an experience, and I want them to experience the diversity and have more understanding of each other, and to grow as adults who understand and embrace what life is all about,” said Hochul.

“It's in these new spaces that the whole world is open up to them. They can learn something new, have new dreams, and have great ambitions,” she added. “For the kids playing in the basketball court, dream of playing for the Liberty or the Knicks someday. Kids exploring the film studio will be dreaming of directing their first first picture production. Kids who have a chance to meet mentors in their own neighborhood, developing lifelong relationships that we know can help children make sure that they are not just healthy, but also on the right path.”

Officials said the future community center addresses a longtime issue in Jackson Heights, a neighborhood that has the least amount of community and open space in the city.

“Jackson Heights is one of the most diverse communities in New York, and yet we rank dead last in New York City in terms of access to green space and community space,” Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said. “Our community deserves better. We deserve places where people can come together, can build relationships, and feel a true sense of belonging.”

“Queens families in Jackson Heights deserve the resources that we need to thrive in a district with the least amount of green space in all of New York City,” Krishnan added.

Officials also highlighted the pool, another first for the Jackson Heights community. Opening access to swimming pools and swimming lessons has been a priority for Queens electeds in recent years.

“Swimming is something that literally changes the course of their lives,” Speaker Julie Menin, who has promoted swim access legislation in the Council along with Krishnan, said. “Not only does it save lives, but it teaches confidence, empowerment, and so that is exactly what's going to happen at this community center.”