Construction on a new comfort station at Kissena Park in Flushing , which will bring new toilets and sinks near the velodrome and sports fields, officially broke ground on Tuesday. It is expected to be open to the public in February.

City officials, including Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, and community members gathered at the park for a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 27.

“I am incredibly excited to see this project finally getting underway,” Ung said. “This was one of the first major projects I invested in after being elected to office because I recognized how much it could improve the way our community enjoys its parks.”

Ung allocated $7.4 million for the comfort station and to build out portions of the Eastern Queens Greenway during her first year in office in 2022, making it one of the first major capital projects she funded after being elected to the City Council.

The comfort station is being built through the Design-Build program, which allows the NYC Department of Design and Construction to complete public projects more efficiently.

While a park restroom project typically takes 3-4 years to complete, the Kissena Park restroom — the first Design-Build project to be awarded to a Minority or Women-Owned Business — is scheduled to open to the public just four months after breaking ground.

The new comfort station will serve the many bicyclists, families and other visitors who use the park daily, as well as provide a welcome convenience for users of the Eastern Queens Greenway.

Once completed, the greenway will connect the two sides of Kissena Park, making it easier for residents to travel through and experience the park.

“Whether you're spending the afternoon with your family, playing sports, cycling or exploring the greenway, having access to clean, convenient restroom facilities makes a real difference,” Ung said. “I want to thank the Department of Design and Construction and the Parks Department for working together to get this portion of the project underway so our community can begin enjoying this amenity.”

Since taking office, Ung has secured more than $25 million for projects for the Eastern Queens Greenway in her district. The funding has supported a series of projects designed to improve connectivity and create a more accessible, welcoming outdoor space for residents.

Several of those projects are currently in different stages of design and construction.

Ung said parks are essential to quality of life in local neighborhoods, emphasizing how important it is that infrastructure projects reflect the growing needs of the people who use them.

“I look forward to seeing the Eastern Queens Greenway continue to take shape in the years ahead,” Ung continued. “This comfort station is one more step toward realizing the full potential of this project, and I will continue working with our city agencies and community partners to ensure that residents have the parks, pathways and public amenities they deserve.”

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