It only took 10 years, but the Emmons Avenue facelift is nearly complete.
The Parks Department last week kicked off the final phase of its beautification of the bayside commercial district by planting a row of trees along the watery end of the avenue.
This new greenery, which lines the sidewalks west of Ocean Avenue, marks the beginning of the end for the project Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz began a decade ago. And phase three comes only four years after Cymbrowitz allocated $460,000 to fund the project.
“It does take time,” said Cymbrowitz. “A little longer than I would have liked.”
The project began in 2003 with the installation of ornamental street lights along Emmons Avenue. Phase two started in 2006 with some much-needed sidewalk rehabilitation, new trees, and benches east of Ocean Avenue.
This fall, the sidewalks will be painted, new trash bins will be installed, and benches in the style of those used in the 1964 World’s Fair will be installed west of Ocean Avenue, leading up to Holocaust Memorial Park.
Locals are big fans of the beautification project, saying it’s a far cry from the dreary, dystopian strip of 1972.
“It’s shaping up nicely,” said Paula Mescall, a 20-year resident of Sheepshead Bay. “It’s much better than in the ’70s or ’80s.”
Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
