UPDATE (Tuesday 5 pm) We just learned that Gus Lambropoulos received the support of the Queen’s Chamber of Commerce in building the Ice Skating rink…
By Nick Stamatakis
When I first heard about Gus Lambropoulos’s plans to have an ice skating ring at Athens Square Park, I thought it was an excellent idea that we all could agree upon: What’s better than bringing people and life into Astoria during the dreary winter months? It seems that most people in positions of power also agreed, and Lambropoulos initially received the support of councilwoman Tiffany Caban as you can see below:
The project is still in its first phase, and Lampropoulos, who is the leader in this along with his wife Maria Markou, is naturally being helped by the 30th Avenue Business Association. They have invited a specialist with tremendous nationwide experience in building structures like this and have developed some plans (see below). The ice skating ring will only be used for the winter months (Nov-Feb), and then it will be removed.
The project has been approved and “Lambropoulos & Co.” are now taking the steps suggested by the Parks Department. Hopefully, soon we will all hear the good news!
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source- qgazette.com
Working On Bringing An Ice Skating Rink To Athens Square Park
Athens Square Park (the front).
Gus Lambropoulos and Frank Arcabascio of the 30th Avenue Business Association are taking a leading role in developing an ice skating rink in Athens Square Park.
Arcabascio said, “Speaking as President of the 30th Avenue Business Association, the tree lighting brings people to Astoria, and so would an ice skating rink.”
Lambropoulos said, “We aim to have Athens Square Park be the next ‘Center’ after Rockefeller Center in 2024. We are still in Phase One of this project. We will invite everyone to a town hall meeting to present this project before we submit it for approval. The community has a voice in everything we do as a community project. Therefore, please watch for our invitation for the town hall meeting location, day and time, over the next few weeks.” Organizers said, “The heart of Astoria has become the greatest destination for tourists, and Athens Square Park is the center of it. Athens Square Park all year-round offers theatre, opera, concerts, movie nights, and other cultural events, and is home to the second largest Christmas Tree outside of Rockefeller Center, and is the first to host a Christmas Parade that leads to the tree lighting in the Park. This year we are proposing an ice skat ing rink to fit in the back of the park with a view of the Christmas Tree as a focal point. We are suggesting that the rink be in the park for four months of the year, from the beginning of November to mid- or late-February.”
The Athens Square Park basketball court in the back of the park.
The Athens Square Park Christmas Tree all lit up.
Gus Lambropoulos and John from the ice skating rink installation specialist.
(L. to r.): President of the 30th Avenue Business Association Frank Arcabascio, Gus Lambropoulos, and skating rink specialist John at Athens Square Park.
A concept of the ice skating rink proposal at Athens Square Park.
Plans for the Athens Square Park skating rink (70×50, 100 – 140 people), to go in the back of the park for about four months of the year.
