City proposes major citywide greenway plan
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The city is proposing a massive expansion of greenways around the city. Photo via the Greater Greenways Plan
By Ryan Schwach
The city is proposing a new massive effort to expand greenways across Queens and the five boroughs.
The New York City greenway plan is a new proposal from the Adams administration that would lead to the creation of the bike and pedestrian corridors around the city.
“Public spaces create vibrant spaces where New Yorkers can move, play, and thrive, and our administration is committed to increasing access to public spaces like parks and waterfronts for every New Yorker,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “While it may be ‘We Outside Summer,’ our administration is making sure every neighborhood has a front-row seat to New York’s beautiful outdoors all year long for generations to come.”
The creation of the plan was required under a City Council law passed in 2022.
The plan sets forth to identify more greenway projects that could be built around the city.
In Queens, the plan identifies possible greenways that connect Southeast Queens near John F. Kennedy International Airport with Astoria, and another that connects Howard Beach with Long Island City by way of Forest Park.
The new greenways would be built alongside existing greenway projects in the Rockaways, Eastern Queens and the waterfront in Northern Queens.
Queens officials are all in.
“Greater Greenways; the New York City Greenway Plan is a comprehensive document that expertly outlines what needs to be done to effectively expand and enhance our city's greenways,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “I am very pleased with the work currently being done in Queens to expand our borough's greenway network, and I look forward to additional work being undertaken as part of the implementation of the plan.
Queens Councilmember and Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Selvena Brooks-Powers is a co-prime sponsor of the 2022 law that required the creation of the citywide greenway plan.
“I am proud to see the city’s first comprehensive greenway plan in more than 30 years come to fruition,” said. Brooks-Powers. “Greenways are more than pathways — they are vital connectors that open access to parks and waterfronts, promote active transportation, strengthen climate resilience, and improve quality of life. This plan will help close gaps in our greenway network and ensure that communities like Southeast Queens — too often left behind — can share in the health, environmental, and economic benefits greenways provide.”
The plan will also map the 506 miles of existing bicycle and pedestrian greenways to help examine their benefits, which include increasing transportation options, enhancing safety, encouraging active transportation, expanding access to green space, improving air quality, supporting economic growth, and creating new connections to job hubs and commercial districts.
“New Yorkers love their parks and waterfront – and greenways are the way they increasingly reach and enjoy these wonderful spaces,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Unfortunately, for too long, cyclists and pedestrians have mostly found greenways adjacent to the city’s wealthier neighborhoods…Greater Greenways is a plan that gives us a clear map for the road ahead – freshly paved and fun to walk and ride.”
