Two new greenways to be built in Queens
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Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday that the city would be building five new greenways throughout the five boroughs, two of which will be built in Queens. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
By Jacob Kaye
The Adams administration announced on Thursday that Queens will soon see a major expansion of its greenway network, including one greenway expected to cover the majority of the World’s Borough’s northern waterfront.
Though details about what exact routes the greenways will take, Mayor Eric Adams and top officials in his administration said on Thursday that in all, the city will create 60 miles of greenway corridors in the outer boroughs in the coming years. Of that new greenway network, 23 miles will be built in Queens.
The new greenways, which will also include 40 miles of new protected bike lanes, will be funded by a $7.25 million federal grant given to the city last summer. The proposal comes as the city experiences the deadliest year for cyclists in a decade. In 2023, 26 cyclists have so far died in the city’s roadways.
“We know that the future is about working with nature, reclaiming green spaces from all over New York, and making sure that everyone can have the access that they deserve,” the mayor said. “This is increasing transportation and the alternative methods of how we move around the city.”
Of the five new greenway paths proposed by the city this week, two are expected to be built in Queens.
The largest of all proposed greenways is the proposed Queens waterfront greenway.
Running 16 miles, the proposed path would run from Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City to Astoria before heading east, running along the northern Queens waterfront until reaching Little Bay Park in Bay Terrace. According to the city, the route will close gaps in cycling routes in Long Island City, Astoria, East Elmhurst and College Point.
Also in Queens would be a new seven-mile greenway corridor running in the southern part of the borough.
Beginning in Spring Creek Park in Howard Beach, the path would run east to Brookville Park in Springfield Gardens.
According to the Adams administration, the pathway, which would be built in an area lacking cycling infrastructure, would give the approximately 35,000 people who work at John F. Kennedy International Airport access to “a fast, environmentally friendly mode of transportation connecting the airport with the remainder of the borough.
The greenway would also connect with the Jamaica Bay Greenway.
The city also proposed building a new greenway from Coney Island in Brooklyn to Highland Park on the border of Queens and Brooklyn, a route that would expand on paths along Ocean and Eastern Parkways, the oldest bike lane in the country.
Additionally, Adams said the city would build a greenway on the Staten Island waterfront, running from the Goethals Bridge to the Verrazano Bridge, and a greenway in the South Bronx, running from Randall’s Island Park to SUNY Maritime.
What exactly the greenways look like is still very much in the air, however, they will likely include some combination of bike paths, walkways and areas for recreation away from the rumbling streets of the city.
“It will be the first part of a multi-step effort that will implement short-term projects along the identified routes and set the stage for long-term improvements to be constructive with future capital funds to keep up with increased demand for cycling, walking and interaction options with nature,” Adams said.
In a similar vein, the mayor said that the exact route the greenways will take has not yet been defined, and only will be after the city collects public feedback.
During his remarks on Thursday, Adams said that he believes far too many streetscape changes pursued by the Department of Transportation – the agency that will lead the greenway project – haven’t been implemented without enough community engagement.
Critics of some of the major streetscape projects created in Queens in recent years – including the open street on 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights – have said that they were not consulted on the projects before being implemented.
“It can't be that way coming in and just dictating to communities without communicating to communities,” the mayor said. “I don't want to steamroll communities. And I hear often, when I'm on the ground, people talk about waking up the next day seeing the entire streets change without the knowledge of it, and I don't want that.”
Though the mayor promised there would be opportunities for the public to weigh in on the projects, he did not say specifically how those opportunities would take shape.
Adams was flanked on Thursday by a number of greenspace and cycling advocates, all of whom celebrated the greenway announcement.
"New Yorkers need a safe and connected greenway network," said Danny Harris, the executive director of Transportation Alternatives. "We're glad to see the City of New York announce a historic expansion of our greenway network in the outer boroughs that includes 40 miles of new protected places to bike. As more New Yorkers choose to bike, expanding our greenways is key to building on this momentum."
When asked about the increase in cyclists deaths this year, Adams, a self-proclaimed cyclist, said that his administration was working to make the streets safer and that those riding bikes need to do a better job following the rules of the road.
“As I'm riding through the city, I'm watching some of my fellow riders not adhering to some of these traffic safety rules that are in place,” the mayor said. “The same rules that are for vehicles are for cyclists, as well.”
