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As the walking paths of Willow Lake remain fenced off and overgrown, many have said the key to the lake’s restoration lies with the Willow Lake Bridge, a small wooden walking bridge apparently burned down by vandals in the late 1990’s.

The responsibility of replacing the Willow Lake Bridge is in the hands of the Department of Transportation, and though there is funding available to rebuild the bridge in the DOT’s capital budget, there have been complications in lining up a contractor for the bridge’s replacement.

“We defaulted the contractor earlier this year for poor performance, and are negotiating a contract with the second highest bidder so that they can begin work as soon as possible,” said DOT spokesman Kay Sarlin.

According to Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), Chairman of the City Council Environmental Committee, the original contractor had started work on the bridge, and then walked off the job. Gennaro said he offered money to the Parks Department from this year’s budget to restore Willow Lake.

“Even when I offered money to do this, they said ‘No, Councilman, we’ve got the money.’ They indicated that they had the funds for the bridge.”

At press time, the DOT was unable to provide the amount of funding set aside in the capital budget for the Willow Lake Bridge.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Conservancy President Pat Dolan said that she lives three blocks away from Willow Lake. Dolan said that through the late 1990’s, there were a number of vandalism incidents in the park, though neither the FDNY nor the Parks Department were able to confirm specific incidents.

“I would say it’s been closed off to the public for at least 10 years,” Dolan said. “The only way they can open up the park is by replacing the bridge. The bridge is burned out. They’re not going to be able to repair it, it’s beyond repair.”

Inquiries via email to both New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski were not returned.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park World’s Fair Association President David Oats said that in the past, his organization has fought numerous attempts by the city to develop the Willow Lake site. “It is the only section of this 1,258-acre park that was never used for structures or any other active purpose so it could be allowed to grow into a unique nature environment,” he said. “Its present condition is an outrage, and we demand the city restore this area to its natural beauty.”

Dolan said that she would like to see the park restored, but has concerns over future acts of vandalism. “I am totally in favor of limited public access,” she said. “I would not want to see that part of the park just open to anyone who simply wanted to walk in and do whatever he or she wanted. That is how we got this problem in the first place.”

“We have to have a larger discussion of what makes most sense for the use of this overall space,” Gennaro said. “We have to clear out some of the invasive shrubbery that has taken everything over. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of concern about Willow Lake.”

Former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern has said that Willow Lake’s trail and bridge were open and in good shape when he left his post in 2002.