Queensway gains ground with State grant to TPL to study the project

Image source: Queensway Facebook page – the current state of some parts of the proposed Queensway

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Queensway – a 3.5 mile stretch of the abandoned Rockaway Beach LIRR line between Rego Park and Ozone Park – recently got an economic shot in the arm, and a lot of hope. Governor Andrew Cuomo approved a $467,000 grant last Wednesday for the Trust for Public Land – the non-profit group helping to get the park off the ground (metaphorically, of course) – to study the project.

Supporters of the Queensway liken the elevated tracks to the abandoned elevated tracks that now make up the High Line Park in Manhattan’s west side; the project is often called the “Queens High Line.” It could bring easier accessible green space to Queens, which ranks third out of the five boroughs for parkland per resident. There are a bunch of parks in Queens – big ones like Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Alley Pond Park, and Forest Park – but they are not always the easiest to access. Supporter of the Queensway say that this elevated park would be “a more hospitable green space” and provide easy and safe pedestrian access to beautiful Forest Park in central Queens.

The pathway would enjoy some of the bucolic elements of Queens. A bike lane and pedestrian path, fitness zones, and street vendors could also be part of the Queensway. We’ve posted this before, but it deserves an encore – this video flyover shows you where the Queensway would be located.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmW-JGrLI4]

The southern end of the line, from Rockaway to Ozone Park is owned by the city, and it serves as the last leg of the A train, part of which is closed now because of the damage during Hurricane Sandy.

If all goes well with the study, eventually moving forward to actually create this park would become the reality. Funding it could be a real challenge. Private gifts would be part of funding and one of the more controversial suggestions is asking Major League Soccer to help fund the Queensway. Since they are looking to put a soccer stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and are looking for ways to reach out and connect with the community, some feel that this could be a mutually beneficial partnership.

This could also satisfy one of the more popular elements of PlaNYC of ensuring that all New Yorkers live within a ten-minute walk of a park.

With all this talk of supporting the Queensway, all is not puppy dogs and ice cream. There is a strong opposing voice to the park. Some would like the LIRR line to be turned back into a rail line. Back in October State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder said, “I think the High Line is a great idea as long as it doesn’t exclude the opportunity to bring back rail and transportation options for southern Queens.” More transit options from the Rockaways has a whole new shine to it since Hurricane Sandy wrecked the peninsula, too. Lew Simon, a Democratic district leader and chairman for the Rockaway Transit Coalition says “We need better transportation. I will fight to the end for it.”

Some feel that quality of life issues of parking and privacy will be violated by this park. In Woodhaven, for example, parts of the line runs right up against backyards, infringing on their safety. Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association made a statement in late October, saying “We cannot endorse a plan that would impose such high costs on so many of our fellow Woodhaven residents, and which has engendered so much opposition from our community.”

But whatever the feelings are on either side of the issue, the possibility of implementing the Queensway will be studied. It will be interesting to see what happens.

New ‘High Line’ on Track [WSJ]
In the Boroughs: Queens may yet take the High Line [Crain’s]
‘Queens high line’ faces Woodhaven opposition [Queens Chronicle]
Queens could get its own High Line – the QueensWay, from Rego Park to Ozone Park [QNYC]
The LIRR line that could become the QueensWay or transit stars on WPIX [QNYC]
The Broad Channel subway station severely damaged, will be closed for months, thanks to Hurricane Sandy [QNYC]