New public park opens near Jamaica’s Atlantic Avenue Extension

Photo by Walter Karling

By David Brand

Elected leaders, city officials and Community Board 12 members cut the ribbon on a new public park near the site of the Atlantic Avenue Extension project in Jamaica Tuesday.

Gateway Park, located in a once vacant lot beneath the AirTrain tracks, is the result of a 15-year-old effort to extend Atlantic Avenue to 95th Street and expand access to Downtown Jamaica from the Van Wyck Expressway. The city broke ground on the 0.86-acre park in 2015. 

“This extension will not only improve traffic patterns and provide a public park in an underutilized area but will provide a significant investment in a community that has been overlooked,” said Councilmember Adrienne Adams. 

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, Parks Department and Department of Transportation worked together to complete the project.

"Thanks to years of collaboration among several agencies and community groups, this multi-faceted project will give New Yorkers a smoother transition into the Downtown Jamaica core,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.