The USTA is likely expanding into Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Image source: Queens Chronicle – “A rendering of the United States Tennis Association’s planned expansion at Flushing Meadows Corona Park includes a new Grandstand, bottom left, a renovated Louis Armstrong Stadium, top right, and additional courts.”

We’ve heard a lot about the Major League Soccer stadium that is most likely coming to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, but another major sports venue also has expansion plans – the US Tennis Association. The Queens Chronicle reports that the expansion requires .68 acres of parkland along the Tennis Center’s eastern edge. They are calling it an upgrade and a “Strategic Vision.”

So what are the changes taking place in this expansion? They are:

• Relocation of the current Grandstand stadium
• Renovation of Louis Armstrong stadium
• Building of additional courts and parking facilities

These changes will “add 10,000 more daily grounds passes during the US Open, a new 8,000-seat Grandstand and an entirely new 15,000-seat Louis Armstrong stadium. A modification to the area’s current parking structures will increase on-site parking capacity from 300 to 700 spots.” The USTA is allowed many more parking spots than are already in place, as is stipulated in their lease with the city (currently they have about 300).

In order to get the ball rolling, the USTA must submit their plans to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, go through a public vetting process and also get approval by the City Council. USTA Managing Director Daniel Zausner is confident everything will be approved, likely by Fall 2013. If everything goes as USTA would like, the work will be done over time, with an expected completion date within seven to 10 years.

USTA expansion in Flushing Meadows Corona Park revealed [Queens Chronicle]
Parking garages may come to Flushing Meadows Corona Park [QNYC]