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Plans to close the Queens Zoo and Animal Park in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for an estimated three years have upset people who use the facility.
A definite date for closing the zoo, to begin a $13-million renovation, has not yet been announced, but officials say it will be sometime this summer.
Hellen Forese, a Sunnyside resident, said, "I think it's wonderful that they are refurbishing the zoo, but their timing stinks.
"This project has been in the works for over six years, and they pick the middle of the summer to get started. Families use the zoo for outings, and I can't believe they want to close it at such a busy time."
City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Henry Stern said the reason construction will begin this summer is to take advantage of the building season during warm months.
"Construction slows during cold weather, and you do as much construction as you can during the building season," Stern said. He added that a closing date will not be announced...