Newsday from New York, New York • 217

ite for this Facelift five-year plan slated to be completed in 1995. The 10-million promenade plan, now in the final phase of design, calls for the total reconstruction of the pedestrian walk on Flushing Bay from the College Point area to Pier 1, past the 1964 Marina along the Grand Central Parkway up to the edge of LaGuardia Airport Projected to begin sometime between 1993 and 1994, it will feature a paved terrace, with seven or eight overlooks at the edge of the bay. Were really trying to make it as green as possible, Smith said. Thats very exciting because theyre a big draw, Abramowitz said. In addition, he said the National Tennis Center has plans for a $180-mil-lion expansion within the next few years, intended to make it the most prestigious tennis center in the world.

Dan Andrews, a spokesman for Shulman, said while Shulman who has allocated millions in discretionary dollars to the park over the years is delighted with the parks progress, its renaissance was long overdue. He said Flushing Meadows is not given the same support by private donors as other flagship parks. He dted a chart, prepared by the Parks Department, indicating that Central Park received $3.75 million in private funding last year, while Flushing Meadow and Van Cortlandt and Pelham Bay Parks in the Bronx received nothing. Prospect Park brought in $483,000 and the Greenbelt, in Staten Island, raised $36,000, according to the Parks Department figures. Not included in the department figures, however, was $100,000 raised by Abramowitz for Flushing Meadow last year.

He said the money was used for recreation programs, new equipment and to retain personnel. Andrews aim pointed to a disparity in staffing. According to the Parks Department figures, Central Park, with 840 acres, has 100 park service workers, compared to 53 at Flushing Meadows, which has 1,255 acres, 1,192 which are maintained. And Abramowitz said that even with the parks resurgence, the budget cuts have taken their toll at Flushing Meadows. Layoffs have reduced the staff, which now stands at 40, by 35 percent.

Some days we have five people working in the whole park," he said. They are supplemented with volunteer workers, and those in programs like Second Chance, a program for youth with minor offenses, and the Summer Youth Employment Program. We make do because we don't have a choice, but morale is bad and people are really demoralized, he said. David Stark, the chief fiscal officer for the Parks Department, said the departments staff was cut from 4,241 workers in 1991-92 to 2,972 in fiscal year 1992-93. In addition, salaries have been frozen for two years, and 1,400 park workers citywide are being forced to take a five-dqy, unpaid furlough.

Its overwhelming, that kind of cut," he said, noting that the departments forestry program was virtually eliminated with no tree pruning other than emergencies. Many recreation programs also have been eliminated. Commissioner Betsy Gotbaum said while the citys five flagship parks were hard-hit by die cuts, the smaller neighborhood parks were devastated. Were only getting to. the parks twice a week which means more litter, more garbage, more rats, more glass, she said.

iven this dire situation, Flushing Meadows revival is particularly significant. Abramowitz said Flushing Meadows is already the cultural and recreational center for Queens. But he sees an even brighter future for the park. By the year 2000, it will be the central park of the metropolitan region, Abramowitz said. By then, he said, the park and the institutions within it would have completed many of the projects now on the drawing board.

When we put back the spine of the park, which are the fountains, said Abramowitz, therell be nothing like it in New York City. Flushing Meadows-Corona 1. New York Hall of Science 2. Queens Botanical Garden 3. The Queens Museum 4.

Theatre in the Park 5. United States Tennis Assn. 6. Queens Zoo 7. Shea Stadium 8.

Pitch and Putt Golf 9. Playground for All Children 10. Swedish Playground 11. Marina 12. Carousel 13.

Sailing 14. Ice Skating 15. Bike Rental 16. Amphitheater 17. Terrace on the Park Niwdsy Tom fUdmond dent Claire Shulman.

That plan will include a grand entrance stairway and a garden where there is now asphalt, and new path systems and parking for the zoo area. Abramowitz said the boat house will be restored by next summer, with several millions of dollars invested by a private concessionaire who has plans for an Italian restaurant, snack bar, public restrooms and boat and bike rental stand. Another concessionaire is investing $5 million, and is in the process of rebuilding the entire marina, expanding the boat capacity from 400 to 800, a 4f zf. 'V 13 -'v 'Jr RECREATION AND ACTIVITIES Rink; kite flying; modal airplane field, Meadow Lake; model boat pond, Meadow Laka; picnic area, barbecuing permitted, at Jewel Avenue and Van Wyck Expressway; soccer fields, Fountain of the Planets; zoo, 111th Sheet and 48th Avenue, Closed for renovation, scheduled to reopen in this summer. Fares! Parte Myrtle Avenue, Union Turnpike, Park Lane, Park Lane South, Cypress HMs Cemetery (538 acres).

Bandshel, Music Grove, off Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue; basketbal court bird watching, Blue Trail through Oak Forest Victory Field and Woodhaven Boulevard; boating; bridle paths, Lynne's Riding School (261-7679) or Dixie Dew Sables (263-3500); carousel, Woodhaven Boutevard and Forest Park Drive; eyeing; golf course. Forest Park Drive and 80th Sheet; handbtel court Victory Held at Myrtle Ave- -rare and Woodhaven Boutevard; horseshoe pitch. Victory Held, Myrtle Avenue and Woodhaven Boutevard; model airplane Held, Forest Park Drive near Metbor-ough Parkway; four-mito nature tral; picnic area, barbecuing permitted. Forest Park Drive and Interborough Parkway; running track. IkMaa Parte Oak to Boom Memorial Avenues, Kissena Boutevard to Fresh Meadow Lane (235 acres).

Bird watching, tral begins at Nature Center, Rose Avenue and Parsons Boutevanfc cricket field. BoqthMenxh rite Avenue and 15001 Street; eyeing; environmental carter. Rosa Avenue and Parsons Boutevsrd; golf course, Booth Memorial Avenue and 164th Street; model boat pond, 16401 Street near Oak Avenue; htef-mie nature toteh picnic area, Oak and Rose Avenues; running track. and Parsons Breakfast With The Birds Part Learn about the migrating songbirds that congregate at the waterhole in Forest Park. May 31, 9 a.m., Metropolitan Avenue and Forest Part Drive.

Nature's Peeper Show: Learn about PajLub llu SSata laSadA tfuA aulaa A spring peepers, me wiy duos mar maw a huge noise. June 6, 8 p.m., Aley Pond Park, parking lot, Winchester Boulevard, north of the Grand Central Copy Cats: Learn how animals in the wid I survive by decek, camouflage and mimic- ry, June 2 p.m., Kissena Park Nature Center, Rose Ave. and Parsons Bivd. A Bay ia the Caaetry: Nature -'wtek of Urtads Cove. Bring binoculare and insect repeltenLJune 13, 7 p-m 37th Avenue What's hi a WeMaadT: Learn how the wetlands formed and why ihey are so kn- portant to us.

June 14, 2 pm; Aley Pond Park, Northern Boulevard east of the Cross island Expressways dfflerence between them. June 20, 2 pm, Cunningham Parte, Union Tumpke and 196th Street. Iha Haas A Bair Leam facts about the bees. June 21, 2 p.m Kissena Park Nature Center Rose Avenue and Parsons ir ture Center Rose Avenue and Parsons URBAN PARK r. RANGERS WALKS AND WORKSHOPS i 4 All merits are free unless notecL 5 For more information, call 699-4204.

The Mad Lan Traveled: A nature walk and lecture on springs wMflowars. May 10, 2 p.m., Aley Pond Park, upper parking lot at Winchester Boulevard, north of the Grand Central Parkway. FauMr Vtfaatoar Weekend: The Charfie Emerson Nature Tral at, Kissena Park needs your he), Join your neighbors and learn about the special urban forestry and education program by planting native species along ttw trail Chiklren 8 and up are welcomed with aduks. Reservations are required. May 16 and1710 a.m.

or 2 pjnj Kissena Xi Mereiers the Nek Learn tel about crows and their Rfestytes. May 23. 2 Cunningham Park, parking lot, Union Tum-pike and196th Street 5. Made la the Shade: Nature wtek under the canopies of Crochoron Park. May 24, 2 p.m., 215th Place and 33rd Road.

Learn how plants guarantee their Image. May 30, 2 p.m., i Park Nature Center, Rose Avenue guarantee their Image. May 30, 2 p.m., Kissena Ptek Nature Center. Rose Avenue ABay Paad Parle Grand Cental Parkway, Union Turnpike, Winchester Boulevard (624 acres). Cycling; Bird watching; Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern god driving range; Northern Boulevard and 231st Street; nature trail; picnic area, (barbecuing permitted) at Springfield Boulevaid and 76th Avenue; running track; soccer and soflbal fields and tennis courts; Winchester Boutevard and Grand Central Parkway.

Bahley Paad Parte North Conduit Avenue, Baisiey Boutevard South, Lakeview Boutevard East (110 acres). Soccer field, 116th Avenue and Baistay Boulevard; tennis courts. iayside Cross island Parkway and 28th Bayilda BaaatagCycBai Tredc West side of LiOte Neck Bay from Fort Totten to Northern Boulevard. CaaBtapham Park: Long Island expressway to Grand Central Parkway, 193rd to 210th Streets (350 acres). Boccie court; eyeing; two-mile nature tral; picnic area, barbecuing parmtead.

at 193rd Street and Union Tumpke; running back; tennis courts. BeaghteteaBaBCsane: 244th and 242nd Streets, 61st Avanua, Commonwealth Boutevard, 72nd Avenue (104 acres). Ftaakhw MeadeweareaB Parte Grand Canute Parkway, Hushing Bar. Van Wyck Expressway. 111th to 134th Streets, Queens Boutevard (155 acres).

Bird watching; boating. Meadow Lake and World's Fair Marina, Hushing Bay, eyeing; cricket field. Meadow Lake and Long Island Expressway; pHch-and-putt and Long Island Expressway; pHch-and-putt golf Atlantic Octren from Beach First Street to Beach 149th Street (68 acres). Cycling; picnic area; swimming. Boutevard.

Lawn; Ice aktelng; World's Fair fitii i vi if I AMi I i 4 i.