The Parks Department has reneged on its commitment to Community Board 8 with regard to Queensboro Oval. In 2010 the board rightfully rejected the Parks Department’s plan to have year-round tennis bubbles in the park. Sutton Tennis East, a commercial operation which charges substantial fees for use of its tennis facilities, has leased the park during the “off season.” In April, the removal of the tennis bubbles would allow softball and other sport and recreational activities to take place, and various leagues would begin playing there at the beginning of May. The Parks Department is now allowing tennis through June 15. Besides being an unwarranted intrusion on the rights of the non-tennis playing public, this represents a significant interference with those involved in league play since a significant portion of their season has now been eliminated. Through the allocation of fields, the Parks Department is squeezing out traditional league sports like softball and touch football, which have provided countless hours of outdoor fun for generations of New Yorkers. If you support our position that the Parks Department respect the wishes of our community boards and city residents for diverse and active use of our park facilities, please sign our petition. It will be delivered by snail mail and email to the Parks Department during Summer 2012.

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