“Queens, The World’s Borough” Sculpture Unites Communities Fundraising To Beautify MacDonald Park
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Larry Ng, Bruce Grossberg and Kevin Sanichara.
By Michael Perlman
Public art is a gift for the masses. Locally, a number of diverse works consist of painted murals exploring history and architecture, Arthur Szyk’s ornate Holy Ark at Forest Hills Jewish Center, Rego Park Jewish Center’s intricate mosaic façade mural by Alexander Raymond Katz, Richard Haas’ Forest Hills mosaic mural, a 1930s intact mural highlighting the harmony between animals, people, and trees at Thorneycroft Apartments / Fanwood Estates, Adolph Weinman’s WWI Soldiers & Sailors Memorial, Frederic de Henwood’s Captain Gerald MacDonald sculpture, and Sten Jacobson’s Spirit of Communication terra-cotta relief at the Forest Hills Post Office. As of this past March, “Queens, The World’s Borough,” a massive 3D sculpture along Yellowstone Boulevard in MacDonald Park initiated a new dimension to a creative timeline, and became a foremost backdrop for photo-ops.
Much harmony was in the heart of Forest Hills for nearly two hours on September 21, as residents gathered in front of the sculpture. Sculpture originator Larry Ng of Forest Hills, co-developer Kevin Sanichara of Forest Hills, and this columnist, who coordinated the event, collaborated to sell 3D miniature models of the attractive and unifying sculpture. With the community’s help, all proceeds were donated to Friends of MacDonald Park as part of a fundraiser originated by Ng.
This local volunteer group, launched in 2012 by longtime resident Steve Melnick, routinely restores and beautifies historic MacDonald Park, which was founded in 1933. Melnick recruits members and has a history of being a hands-on advocate. In cooperation with the Parks Department, volunteers maintain its current landscape and plant trees, flowers, and bushes, as well as coordinate cleanups, including the improvement of the bronze park plaque and eliminating graffiti.
At the event, most supporters proudly posed with their miniature Queens sculpture in front of the eye-catching sculpture, and also posed with their new collector’s item alongside meaningful properties throughout the neighborhood. The miniature sculptures are also recognized as a great gift. For residents who missed the event, an estimated 20 models are available for purchase at Royal Collectibles at 96-01 Metropolitan Avenue, and the funds will continue to benefit MacDonald Park.
Enter the world of Larry Ng, a longtime resident whose two children were born and raised in Forest Hills. A noble sense of civic pride extends from his heart, which fully materializes as in the case of residents and commuters encountering the sculpture or conversing with him. “I am very fortunate to have a wonderful family, friends and neighbors. It has been the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life, and giving back to the community is a way of showing my appreciation,” said Ng.
“Queens, The World’s Borough” symbolizes and celebrates Queens’ diversity of people and their ethnicities and cultures, who chose to live together in the borough and share their ideas, dreams, history, food, and customs. The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes Queens as the “most diverse urban area on the planet.” It has a population of 2.3 million people, representing 190 nationalities with 360 languages and dialects. “The catchphrase captures the borough’s uniqueness in the world,” said Ng, who feels that everyone should take pride in Queens.
From a creative vision to the drawing board and its production and installation, leadership mounts to teamwork. In January 2024, “Queens, The World’s Borough” was conceived, and on March 22, 2025, it was welcomed with a celebratory style on-site dedication, with diverse residents and elected officials. Ng reminisced, “The design took about a month. WhiteClouds, a specialty fabricator of custom outdoor sculptures based in Ogden, Utah, was selected as the fabricator. It took them approximately six months from conception to completion. The budget was about $50,000. Northwell Health made a generous donation and became our official sponsor. The remainder of the funds were raised through private donations and a GoFundMe campaign initiated by Kevin Sanichara, an active volunteer.”
The over 2,000-pound steel sculpture is 6 feet in height and 22.75 feet in width, and its red, white, and blue scheme is a reflection of the official Queens flag. Its typography is reminiscent of the classic mid-1970s “I Love NY” logo, which was designed by Milton Glaser for a New York State advertising campaign to boost tourism and raise the city’s spirit during a challenging period. That positive spirit echoes within Ng, and his project’s style is a means of celebrating Queens among New York City in its current day.
Alek Turkmen, a volunteer and a Cooper Union engineering student, produced a few prototypes of the sculpture to share with the community, become acquainted with its design, and compile feedback. “Many people really liked it and asked if they could get one. Recently, I found a custom 3D printing service in Ohio that was able to use the original 3D model of the sculpture to print batches of the miniature Queens sculpture. For a high-quality 3D print, it takes about 8 hours to print,” said Ng.
Fast-forwarding to this September, much magic surfaced in MacDonald Park during the miniature sculptures sale. Residents bonded alongside the sculpture, made friends, chatted with the event coordinators, and learned about the design process for the sculpture and the miniatures. At $40 per model, over $1,000 was raised in a couple of hours, and some were ordered by former residents who relocated to Florida. Plans are underway to print approximately 100 to 150 more 3D models, and if there is continued interest, production will extend beyond.
“It was great to see so many people excited about getting their Queens miniature models,” said Ng, who praised MacDonald Park, a focal point known for its landscaping and wildlife, history, recreation, and teamwork. “MacDonald Park in the center of Forest Hills is extremely well maintained with the help of Friends of MacDonald Park. It has become a gathering spot for the community,” he continued.
Event attendees shared many insights and expressed much gratitude. George Meyer, a native Forest Hills resident said, “I’m truly grateful to be the owner of one of these unique art pieces, as a lifelong resident and since Queens is a most diverse place. By owning a miniature sculpture, I could feel as if I am holding a tiny piece of global culture and community. I put it in a place in my home where it can always be seen, and pass it on to my son for him to enjoy as well.”
“I wanted the sculpture to be displayed in my home, since I am a proud Queens resident,” said Alicia Venezia of Forest Hills. “We have residents from all over the world that bring their culture here through their shops and restaurants. You could be walking along an avenue or boulevard, and see at least five to six different ethnic restaurants. There is so much to choose from. Queens is truly an amazing place to live, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Alicia Venezia holding up her sculpture alongside Thorneycroft Ramp Ramones mural.
Michelle Falcon, who was raised in Jackson Heights and resides in Forest Hills, explained “Being a child of immigrants and growing up in Queens, it truly is ‘The World’s Borough’ to me. I’ve grown up surrounded by so many different cultures and its people. With its classic lettering and bright coloring, this mini sculpture catches everyone’s eye. Owning this simple yet significant sculpture is a reminder of the diversity that makes Queens the best borough.”
Author and educator Carmen Montijo, an earliest arrival, had the privilege of attending the event that she long anticipated. She explained, “I received my Queens miniature sculpture from the designer, Larry. As for meeting him and his wife, what an awesome couple! He was so approachable and happy to tell me about the sculpture. I learned something remarkable, since the sculpture was not mass-produced in a mold, but created with cutting-edge 3D printing technology. It takes hours to print each one. Drawing from his experience as a software developer and true innovator, he generously shared his time, brought cookies for everyone, and took photos with us to capture the occasion. I was very happy to make a purchase, since the proceeds go directly to the MacDonald Park to support its upkeep.”
Montijo feels that the Queens sculpture is more than just art, but a “landmark” of the current day. “It creates a welcoming meeting spot, delights children who can safely play among the letters, and I feel that it stands as a tribute to the 1939 – 1940 World’s Fair and the 1964 – 1965 World’s Fair with its fitting title, ‘The World’s Borough.’”
Bruce Grossberg, a former member of Queens Community Board 6, shared a detailed account, hence the occasion and its symbolism. He also took pride in purchasing the model to help maintain and beautify the park. “It was great to come down to MacDonald Park on a Sunday to purchase the miniature sculpture. I live near MacDonald Park, and I get a kick whenever I pass the actual sculpture. The mini is a great facsimile, as the lettering and coloring are spot-on. Even the mini sculpture gives you a sense of depth of the original.”
He continued, “Queens is a very large borough, especially if you think of the commute from Whitestone to Breezy Point. Queens is also one of the most ethnically diverse places on Earth.
Nothing is perfect, but in an increasingly divided world, Queens proves that all sorts of people can live, work and play together in peace. The new Queens sculpture symbolizes and ties together all the different places and people that make up Queens. It is important to have symbols that unite us. The actual sculpture and the minis make a great contribution to that drive for peace and unity.”
The event was also a family affair, as in the case of Jo P. and her daughter Samantha P. “We feel proud owning a miniature sculpture for many reasons,” said Jo P. “We are born and raised in Queens, and that alone is special. We are lucky to live here and enjoy the cultural diversity that Queens offers by meeting different people and eating the foods that they prepare. We don’t have to visit exotic countries, since they come to us. When we look at our sleek blue sculpture on our shelf, it reminds us of how fortunate we are to live here and enjoy the pleasures of Queens.”
“Being an owner of the miniature sculpture makes me feel happy,” said Samantha P. “The sculpture represents diversity, since Queens is a melting pot of different cultures and people. Going to Forest Hills to get the sculpture with my mom was an exciting experience. I met people who helped design the sculpture, which was cool. We even got photos of our sculpture being signed. Overall, knowing I have this miniature sculpture will always be meaningful, since I’ve lived in Queens for my whole life. It was a memorable day indeed.”
“This was a huge project from start to finish, so let’s take some time to enjoy the moment as we celebrate Queens,” said Ng, who relayed much gratitude to all volunteers, sponsor Northwell Health among donors, local leaders, media, and organizations, and the Parks Department among other NYC agencies who contributed to this achievement. The event coordinators (Larry Ng, Kevin Sanichara, Michael Perlman, and Annie Chu) are also thankful for members of the Facebook group Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens – “Our Communities” and nearby groups, who purchased miniature models to support the MacDonald Park fundraiser.
