Starting this week, Queens residents will have the opportunity to have their voices heard on the new 16-mile greenway plan that will connect Gantry Plaza Park to Fort Totem Park along the East River and Long Island Sound, known as the new coastal area of this county, whose project is called Queens Waterfront Greenway.
A comprehensive strategy is currently being considered to create a continuous and accessible path by identifying a series of short- and long-term projects that New York City will undertake.
And most importantly, the opinion of Queens residents will shape the plan and refine the project, through a series of workshops and community consultations.
Residents of this diverse New York town can participate by attending workshops dedicated to various sections of the corridor.
To this end, the public is being invited to the first round of community workshops, focused on existing conditions, to share comments, suggestions, concerns and specific ideas. To qualify, register online for the Queens Waterfront Green Trail Existing Conditions Workshop.
“A waterfront greenway in Queens will better connect residents to the East River and Long Island Sound through new bike lanes and pedestrian spaces and create a critical travel corridor for cyclists. We look forward to developing our historic greenway expansion alongside local residents,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez.
Consultation activities will be inclusive and multilingual.
What is known about this project?
As the DOT specifies in the preliminary ideas that motivate this project, although this county has 1,200 hectares of green areas, they are unevenly concentrated in its central area.
The expectation is that by connecting parks, green spaces and outdoor recreation, the Queens Waterfront Greenway will better link residents to open waterfront areas.
“Because the borough developed in the 20th century as a commuter community for Manhattan workers, Queens suffers from gaps in public transportation service. Its planning was focused on the automobile, which gave rise to large highways, which created an unwelcoming environment for pedestrians and cyclists, who tried to cross the boundaries of the neighborhood,” highlights the municipal agency.
Community workshops:
- Section 1: Gantry Plaza State Park to Bowery Bay
Tuesday, October 8, 6-8 pm at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria
- Section 2: Bowery Bay to Willets Point
Wednesday, October 16, 6-8 pm at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing
- Section 3: Willets Point to Fort Totten
Thursday, October 24, 6-8 pm at Alley Pond Park and Environmental Center in Douglaston
- All sections: Virtual Workshop
Tuesday, October 29, from 6 to 8 pm via Zoom (online)