Through studying the site, it was found that while Queens had plenty of demand for public spaces and cultural programming, such opportunities were rare due to a deficiency in open space.

Once a 3.5 mile long rail line, the QueensWay reimagines the long abandoned path as a new linear park and cultural greenway through the heart of Central Queens.

Informed by community-based planning initiatives, the current feasibility study looks at opportunities to convert a century-long neglected corridor into a publicly-accessible open space. Running through the neighborhoods of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, and Ozone Park, the QueensWay connects adjacent communities to Forest Park, the borough’s third largest park, through a set of paths that vary from trail, to ravine, to elevated infrastructure.

The financial feasibility of the plan was also thoroughly considered as a way to keep the project grounded and realistic. Cost being one of the major factors in the viability of the plan, the final estimates demonstrated a modest budget for a project of the QueensWay’s scale.

Working with DLANDStudio, the Trust for Public Land, and Friends of the QueensWay, recreational and educational activities were developed into a conceptual design with a consideration to safety, security, and impacts to the neighboring communities. The conceptual plan was released in 2014.