Millions Coming To Bayside From NYC's 2022 Budget: Here's Where

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — The record-high $99 billion budget passed by the City Council last week includes millions of dollars flowing to Bayside.

Billed as a "recovery budget" by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the spending package for the 2022 fiscal year — which starts Oct. 1 of this year — was bolstered by billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds.

In addition to major citywide items, like $4 million for CUNY scholarships, the budget also includes smaller neighborhood funding allocated by Bayside's two Council members, Paul Vallone and Barry Grodenchik.

Patch reviewed the two public budget documents and picked out some notable neighborhood funds from Vallone, who presides over most of Bayside, whereas Grodenchik's district only encompasses Bayside Hills — here they are:

$208,000 to St. Mary's Hospital for Children, which operates the state's only medical day care program for young adults with disabilities and recently won an award for its high quality care.

$425,000 to the Bay Terrace library, which was the last closed library branch to reopen this month. Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott said that Vallone's allocation helps " Queens Public Library meet its mission to provide free access to information, knowledge and opportunity for all."

$2.75 million to renovate the soccer fields at Bayside's Raymond O’Connor Park — a project that's in partnership with City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

Another $20 million for building a new playground in Bay Terrace adjacent to a site where the city proposed building a new school, which was shot down by the community board over parking concerns. NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver said that the playground will be "for the children and families of Bay Terrace to enjoy," and that Vallone's overall investment into Bayside's greenspaces "will provide Queens residents and visitors with even more high-quality open space for recreation and fitness."

$150,000 to NYPD security cameras, which will be used in part to curb growing drag racing complaints.

A whopping 30 lines of the budget were devoted to funding projects at schools in District 19, including $100,000 to Bayside High School.

The budget also includes many smaller allocations of $5,000 to neighborhood groups:

• Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park received funds to support its park planting and cleanup events.
• Bayside Little League, which is playing at a long-awaited revamped park this season, got funds for upgrading equipment.
• The Korean American Family Services Center received funding for its domestic violence and economic empowerment programs as well as its emergency shelter and after-school space.

Vallone said that the budget reflects his work to "make sure that Northeast Queens was not ignored and given our fair share and recognition that it deserves as a part of this great city."