Tag Archives: forest park

New York Governor Cuomo Awards Grant to Support QueensWay

We all know of the bustling tourist attraction the beautiful Manhattan’s High Line has become. What if a similar elevated park could be made of the old 3.5 mile long rail line connecting the Queens neighborhoods from Rego Park, Forest Hills, Richmond Hill, and Ozone Park to Forest Park?

 

That is precisely the question asked of a new feasibility study, for which Governor Cuomo has just awarded $467,000 to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), working with Friends of the QueensWay, a local organization of Queens residents dedicated to transforming the blighted old LIRR line. Transformed into a newly renovated public corridor, the line could include a bike and pedestrian path, cultural space and an open greenway.

“It’s so important to support local projects that are meaningful to New York City. I decided to make a donation to the QueensWay because it’s a project I believe in. Not only is it an innovative riff on the High Line, redesigned to fit this space in Queens, but it’s also a great way to bring open space, a place to play and relax into a people-filled part of Queens. I couldn’t be more excited about it, and I think other New Yorkers should donate to it, too!” -Robert Hammond, Founder, Friends of the High Line

After 50 Years Dormant, Old Queens Rail Line May See New Use

In order to help TPL complete a thorough feasibility and visioning study, continue ongoing advocacy efforts and create some initial programming with local community groups, the Friends of the QueensWay is trying to raise an additional $50,000 from private sources. You can help them by making a contribution to their project on ioby to raise the last $50,000.

With the funding from Governor Cuomo and from ioby, the feasibility and visioning effort is expected to launched this spring, and will incorporate a series of community input sessions in the diverse neighborhoods adjacent to the QueensWay.

Friends of the High Line co-founder Robert Hammond already donated to the project, saying, “It’s so important to support local projects that are meaningful to New York City. I decided to make a donation to the QueensWay because it’s a project I believe in. Not only is it an innovative riff on the High Line, redesigned to fit this space in Queens, but it’s also a great way to bring open space, a place to play and relax into a people-filled part of Queens. I couldn’t be more excited about it, and I think other New Yorkers should donate to it, too!”

Join Robert and dozens more by donating here. Learn more about Friends of the QueensWay on their website, their Facebook page and their twitter feed.