Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Corona is receiving a grassroots makeover thanks to a brand-new beautification initiative, which kicked off Friday, July 17, on Field 7 with a handful of volunteers painting soccer goalposts and cleaning up dead foliage around the pathways.

Goal 2 Goal, a local organization dedicated to using soccer as a vehicle for community empowerment, will be hosting the project throughout the summer and is welcoming volunteers to pitch in and take care of the community they call home.

The organization’s founders, Victor Mooney and his wife, Suping Mooney, encouraged Queens locals and anyone else interested in helping out to check their website for future updates and announcements about volunteer events.

The initiative is coordinated in partnership with the Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park (AFMCP) and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Additional supporters that donated resources and supplies include the Home Depot, MetroPlusHealth and AmeriCorps.

An Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park volunteer used a leaf blower to clear off dead foliage next to the soccer field. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a sprawling 897-acre park, is largely considered the crown jewel of Queens, offering a comprehensive space for families to enjoy a number of public amenities. From tennis courts, soccer fields, an Olympic-sized indoor pool and eight playgrounds, to iconic cultural institutions such as the Queens Museum, the Queens Botanical Garden, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and the New York Hall of Science, the park holds a rich history on its fields and in its landmarks.

However, the park has many infrastructural and landscaping needs. While the Parks Department keeps up as much as it can with maintenance and landscaping, many Queens residents say Flushing Meadows Corona Park is in need of some TLC.

That’s where organizations like Goal 2 Goal and AFMCP come in. The latter, a conservancy founded in 2015, is dedicated to preserving, maintaining and improving Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It often provides staffing support through volunteers and raises funds throughout the year to support programming.

Victor said he and his wife often bike through the park, which inspired them to take action and coordinate the beautification initiative. By giving the park the love it deserves, Victor explained, Queens residents can show their pride and improve the community.

Suping and Victor painted the goal posts on Field 7 during the July 17 kickoff event. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo

“They say if you see something, say something — but it’s also if you see something, do something,” Victor emphasized. “We’re hoping other Queens residents will come out and volunteer a few hours to give back to the community.”

As the grandson of immigrants from County Tyrone, the largest county in Northern Ireland, Victor said he greatly values the diversity of Queens. Preserving that diversity, he continued, is one of the initiative’s top goals.

He pointed to the Column of Jerash, gifted to the park by King Hussein of Jordan in 1962 ahead of the 1964-65 World’s Fair, that has fallen into disrepair despite its cultural significance. He said Goal 2 Goal will be enlisting the help of a professional landscaper to give it the “dignity that it deserves.”

The Column of Jerash at Flushing Meadows. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo

Suping represented MetroPlusHealth, a New York-based health insurance provider that supports the initiative. While MetroPlusHealth generally helps connect families, kids, seniors and immigrants with health insurance resources, Suping said the provider often gets involved in community events. “This is our community, and we love this park so much,” she said.

The initiative pays homage to the legacy of John J. Sweeney, president emeritus of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The late labor leader, a beloved figure to many in Queens, heavily advocated for better working conditions and encouraged community involvement to create a better future.

Much of his work took place at the intersection of labor activism and local sports, promoting ideas of teamwork, resilience and a long-term investment in the community.

Sweeney was first elected president of the AFL-CIO in 1995, although he stepped down from the role after five terms in September 2009. During his 15-year presidency, Victor said he and Sweeney had a close relationship and even described Sweeney as “like a brother” to him.

“Mr. Sweeney was here 23 years ago with 100,000 people fighting for immigration rights, right here on this soil,” Victor said. “Now we’re just saying, in his legacy of giving back to the community, this is what we’re here for.”

Sweeney, pictured above, was a fearless labor leader who fought for worker and immigrant rights, advocating for the community at the intersection of labor activism and local sports. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo

As a public park that continues to foster future generations of both athletic and artistic talent, as well as a destination for families and community events, Victor said Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a testament to the strides society has made in education, advocacy and cultural achievement.

“We have to give back to our parks — they need love,” Victor said. “That’s where the residents of Queens come in. We can score a goal at MetLife Stadium, and we can score a goal at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.”