Jamaica Bay and the Rockaways

You Can Help Design Queens' Parks Of The Future

Parks collects surveys for PlaNYC regional parks

As part of PlaNYC, Parks & Recreation is planning for the development of Highland Park and Rockaway Beach into the next great regional parks and is seeking community input about the design and amenities. Online surveys are now available in English and Spanish at www.nyc.gov/parks. Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of Parks and the City Parks Foundation, will also partner with neighborhood groups to collect surveys in these parks to ensure broad community input. Design will begin this fall and we anticipate breaking ground in 2009.

On Earth Day 2007, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a sweeping roadmap to the sustainable growth of New York City, which included $400 million to design and build eight underdeveloped regional parks across the City: Highland, Rockaway, Soundview, Dreier-Offerman, McCarren, Fort Washington, Highbridge, and Ocean Breeze parks. Other Parks initiatives included in PlaNYC include planting one million trees, greening 800 traffic triangles and opening playgrounds and ballfields around the City.

Highland Park

The former Ridgewood Reservoir, nestled in the broader expanse of Highland Park, was built in 1856 on a natural basin. The reservoir was used until 1959 and served as a backup water supply for Brooklyn and Queens until 1989. Today the 50-acre site on the Brooklyn/Queens border consists of three reservoir basins, pump houses and a caretaker’s cottage. The majority of the site is undeveloped, creating a striking natural setting with incredible potential for community access.

The $46 million that has been allocated will reconstruct Highland Park’s infrastructure and develop a new destination park. Potential improvements include a pedestrian network, new and enhanced active and passive recreation areas, new playgrounds, concessions and improved park structures.

The deadline for Highland Park surveys is Friday, August 31, 2007.

Rockaway Beach

The Rockaways have been a recreational haven for New Yorkers for over 100 years and provide recreational opportunities for millions of people every year. Housing development in the area has increased the need for a wider range of amenities that will delight future park users.

The $36 million that has been allocated will improve the boardwalk and adjacent parkland at Far Rockaway Beach between Beach 9th and 31st Streets. Potential amenities include new recreation areas, bathrooms, concessions, new parks and playgrounds, parking and boardwalks.

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Know Before You Go

Paerdegat Basin Park