Dear Parks Department and elected officials of Astoria,

Our neighborhood desperately needs more public open space, and additional ways to address food insecurity, lack of fresh produce options, and health and wellness. This has always been the case, but has become more evident as our city navigates the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is why we, the undersigned residents of Western Queens and the surrounding areas, support Astoria Urban Agriculture Alliance's plans to transform a long - neglected piece of public land into a public communal hub for gardening, skill sharing, education, and community building, at Sitting Area, on Hoyt Avenue North between 19th Street and 21st Street, in Astoria, NY. We are excited to see this vision become a reality, and a much-needed asset to the community.