CORONA — The proposed music festivals at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park will further block locals from space that's already been "lost" to private interests, the local community board said Tuesday.
The board publicly discussed the high-profile festivals at its monthly general meeting — and members unanimously agreed to pen a letter to city officials in an effort to stop the gigs from happening.
AEG was the first to announce plans for a multi-day music festival at the park, followed by The Madison Square Garden Company, which said it also planned a free event for Queens residents before the show.
The controversial plan riled up board members who have been vocal about the U.S. Tennis Association expansion and other private uses of the park.
"We've lost our park, literally lost it," member Lucy Schilero said. "And it's going to get worse."
Chairman Lou Walker said the festivals would block off access to the heavily used park.
"We have to see how this will proceed, but this is not good news for us," he said.
The board joins Borough President Melinda Katz, who seemed doubtful the organizers could host them without major interference in the community.
“Quite frankly, it’s still unclear how limited resources expended for events of such scale would be returned to Queens and its families,” she said in a statement in November.
Parks Department officials confirmed they've received permit requests for multiple large-scale events at the park since November, when groups could formally file for 2016. But they did not go into further detail.
It's not clear what role the newly formed Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Alliance has in the decision over the festivals. The group was finally announced last month and will oversee fundraising and maintenance for the borough's park with funds from the USTA expansion.
