ASTORIA — A block of 30th Avenue alongside Athens Square Park is being named after a late civic leader who helped create the neighborhood green space, officials announced this week.
The City Council approved a bill Thursday to co-name 30th Avenue between 29th and 30th streets "Dennis Syntilas Way" after the late Astoria resident, known for his civic and charitable work in the neighborhood, and an influential leader in the local Greek-American community.
Syntilas, who died earlier this year at the age of 85, was among those who advocated for the creation of Athens Square on 30th Avenue, a public park and gathering space that includes an amphitheater where Greek musicians and other cultural performers put on shows each summer.
"He wanted to have a little cultural environment where people could come and sit and chat," George L. Stamatiades, treasurer of Athens Square, Inc., told DNAinfo this spring, as the group celebrated the installation of a 7-foot statue of Sophocles in the park.
Syntilas was also the founder of the Greek-American Homeowners Association, which would host a free Thanksgiving celebration and meal delivery service each year for those in need, according to City Councilman Costa Constantinides, who sponsored the street naming.
"He is a great example of civic engagement and responsibility throughout our community," the councilman said in a statement. "This recognition will forever commemorate his tireless work and contributions to our city."
The street renaming bill will take effect after it's signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
