Bucolic Forest Park is one of Queens’ green treasures. Poor Management Another recurring problem among parks is not only private management, but existing Parks Department management. David Oats of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park World’s Fair Association released a 40-page report on Monday on what his group believed are severe management problems in Flushing Meadows Park. In a summary of the report, Oats wrote that allowing cars on the park’s grass during special events, failing to produce a plan to safeguard or upgrade the New York State Pavilion and neglecting maintenance on park landmarks, all point to lack of good leadership. A letter to the Mayor and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe accompanied the report and called for the removal of Estelle Cooper, the park’s administrator. Even though Oats is not part of 200 , he said he supports its purpose. Another outspoken opponent of park management is Bob Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association. He is signed on to Dolan’s petition that continues to grow—several weeks ago it jumped from 150 members to more than 180. It hit 200 Tuesday. “It’s an indication that most civic leaders are really dissatisfied with leadership in Parks and Recreation,” he said in a phone interview. “We’ve had a problem with them from the first day this commissioner (Benepe) took over.” Holden’s said his group’s biggest concern is the new off-leash law that permits dogs to run free during certain hours in the park. Juniper sued the Parks Dept., but a Queens judge ruled in favor of the laws. Holden said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski is partly to blame and her leadership style is an unwelcome change from the previous deputy commissioner, Richard Murphy. “She’s really echoing Benepe’s philosophy,” he said. “Murphy would bump the system a little. I have a sense Benepe doesn’t like any free thinkers.” Holden spoke highly of the parks’ workers, but called the department structure “a bloated bureaucracy,” or a “top heavy” agency in which there is a lot of talk, but not enough action. Eric Ulrich, president of the Ozone Park Civic Association, also feels like there are only spinning wheels and no movement in the Parks Dept. He said in southern Queens the biggest problem is tree pruning. The American Legion on 101st Avenue where a large tree stands in front of the building is one example, he said. “Their flag is ripped to shreds every year by this tree,” he said, “because the parks department has not come to prune the trees.” But not every civic leader has a rocky relationship with the Parks Dept. Edward Rey, president of the Rockaway Park Homeowners and Residents Association, deals with beaches instead of branches. He said the Parks Dept. has been very responsive in meeting community requests, and gets along “fantastic” with his association. But he said he would like to see a change in how beaches are viewed, particularly the rule about beaches being closed at night. “The ocean and the beach has been there millions of years; it neither opens nor closes,” Rey said. He said hopes he could settle this “cultural difference,” but emphasized the “real spirit cooperation” with the Parks Department. It is this spirit of cooperation that continues to attract more members to the 200 list that not only unites park advocates, but seeks to bridge the rift between the community and Parks Dept. leaders. Holden just wants them to listen. “This is a good start,” he said. “If we speak as one voice, it’s much louder. What they are afraid of is if we band together.”

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