UPDATE 11/20:

Thank you to everyone for voicing your view on the proposed bubble - we are thrilled to say NYC Parks Concession actually made an error and is looking for a food/beverage concession not to enclose the courts and privatize recreation. We were also told that the RFP does not mean a proposal will be chosen. This type of concession is something that our group would support, as it is not traditional work done by NYC Parks and would be a value add for recreation. We do hope that these funds go to NYC Parks directly, especially as Parka still receives >1% of the City budget (other US city parks get 2-3%).

The NYC Parks Concessions Unit had a miscommunication and presented the idea of the bubble in error. Within 3 hours of our group reaching out Wednesday morning, the Queens Borough President Richards' Office Parks Liaison, Laura, had not received the 40 days notice of the RFP and helped to unravel the issue, that it is for a food concession. The CB11Q informed me that they had been working with Councilwoman Paladino, who is also opposed to this type of construction. 

Thank you to everyone that signed and shared, amazing to have over 630 signatures online in just a few days, added to paper signatures we have 670! Our organization will be exploring the option to request that Crocheron & John Golden Park to be designated as a Scenic Landmark by the NYC Landmark Preservation Committee. If you are knowledgeable about the Landmark Preservation process, a great writer or researcher, or know someone that is, please get in touch with us.

We are grateful to everyone who signed, shared, commented, and helped us to show that our community would prefer not to have a bubble. Thank you! And thank you to the officials and their dedicated staff, especially the QBP Parks Liaison Laura for her quick action.

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Crocheron and John Golden Park, nestled in North Eastern Queens, is the 12th largest park in the borough with 62 acres of invaluable public green space and recreation area. For over 100 years the area has served as an oasis for community members to gather, exercise, and enjoy nature. 

Recently, Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park learned that NYC Parks Concession is releasing an RFP (request for proposal) from local vendors to build a bubble and manage the tennis & pickle ball courts along with the Tennis House. At this time, they are proposing it from Columbus Day to sometime in April, however, climate change means inclement weather is less frequent. Also, programs often expand past their original proposed work. As a membership group based around conserving the parkland, Friends of Crocheron believes that this proposal would have an immense and detrimental impact on our community.

Nearby indoor bubbles, such as in Alley Pond, the comparison NYC Parks Concession team used, charge $31-$67 per hour for court use, prices that make recreation unaffordable for many local families and seniors.

Photos from November 15th show players enjoying active tennis & pickle ball games under beautiful foliage from the park's diverse tree canopy. This enclosed athletic bubble would redefine the park’s unique character. 

The proposal would create limitations on community access during the 'cooler months' along with possible expansion of contract. Outdoor recreational spaces are most critical for the mental and physical well-being of the public. With this alteration, not only would those who play pickle ball or tennis be affected by the privatized structure, but it would also negatively alter the park's beautiful landscape. According to April 2025 Center for an Urban Future, "money generated by most parks concessions does not stay with NYC Parks." This change would come at a cost, as individuals would have to pay to access what was once freely available to all.

Moreover, the damage to the historic landscape of the park and the irreversible consequence of allowing private manage of the courts stands contrary to our communal values.

The park has always been a place for recreation and reflection. A large industrial white bubble will alter the landscape views of the parkland while also removing view of the parkland for those playing on the courts. 

Maintaining the accessibility and free use of these public spaces is critical for all people. By preserving the park in its entirety, as intended by the ciitizens who petitioned for the City to purchase Crocheron and John Golden's wish that the area would be used for all people. The privatization and bubbling of the tennis court will cause both obstruction or cost to future generations.

Concrete and actionable goals can be achieved by:
1. Proposing alternative concession options for Crocheron that do not impede on the existing park landscape.
2. Engaging with local stakeholders in discussions about economic issues and environmentally friendly options.
3. Enhancing the current park facilities, rather than restricting them with paywalls.

Join us in standing against this proposal to construct an athletic bubble over our cherished park. Let us protect the historic integrity of Crocheron & John Golden Park and preserve the free, open spaces that are so vital to our community’s well-being. Your signature can make a difference. Help us keep our park open and accessible to all. Please sign the petition today!

Images are from a November 15th morning, showing a beautiful and the color tree canopy with dozens of people playing or socializing as they wait to enjoy the courts.