The QueensWay is built with health, safety, and accessibility at its core, meeting the needs of residents and park users alike. This 3.5-mile greenway will feature ramped entries, comfort stations, and rest areas, ensuring it’s welcoming for people of all abilities. Thoughtful lighting will illuminate pathways and activity spaces for safety while minimizing light pollution for nearby neighbors. Activity zones will be strategically placed away from homes, offering privacy and peace for families, while creating a safe, inclusive environment for everyone.

By transforming a neglected corridor into a year-round recreational space, the QueensWay will support community health and carbon-free transportation. Walking, biking, and other activities will provide safe ways to stay active, with programming for youth expanding through partnerships with schools and local organizations. Seasonal plantings will enhance the trail’s beauty, and with fewer cars on the road, air quality will improve for surrounding neighborhoods. Research shows people living near parks are more active, and the QueensWay will help build healthier, safer, and more connected communities for all.

The QueensWay will be a vital connector, linking six communities to some of Queens’ most cherished destinations. This greenway is anchored by Forest Park, extending south toward the Jamaica Bay Greenway and Gateway National Recreation Area, and north to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Along the way, it intersects with key commercial corridors and provides access to 28 schools within a 10-minute walk.

This 47-acre space will be a celebration of the vibrant, diverse neighborhoods of Central and Southern Queens, some of the most culturally rich areas in the world. For residents and visitors alike, it’s a gateway to explore the unique character and communities of the borough, offering a space for connection, exploration, and discovery.

The QueensWay will be a cultural greenway like no other, celebrating the rich traditions and diversity of Queens while creating fresh opportunities for community and local businesses. This dynamic space will connect visitors to the borough’s iconic restaurants and small businesses, boosting economic activity across neighborhoods. Gathering spaces like the Elevated Zone and Forest Park Grove will become lively destinations for performances, public art, and cultural events.

By restoring and highlighting the industrial structures of the old rail line, the QueensWay will honor its history while transforming it into a modern community hub. With an estimated one million annual visitors, each spending between $7–$21 per trip, the QueensWay will deliver meaningful economic and cultural benefits for Queens and beyond.

You can help support the QueensWay by signing our petition today.

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In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $117 million to New York City Parks and Trust for Public Land for the next phase of the QueensWay—the Forest Park Pass. This 0.7-mile expansion will create 9 acres of vibrant greenspace, connecting the Met Hub to Forest Park and providing residents with car-free access to nature, local shopping, and beloved community spaces like Victory Field. With added features like bleachers for Little League fields, this phase will enhance both recreation and connectivity for Queens.

In 2022, the City of New York invested $35 million for the first section of the QueensWay, the Metropolitan Hub (Met Hub). This 0.3-mile segment will transform into a 5-acre greenway with improved access to recreation, schools, and businesses, benefiting the community with safer, more accessible spaces.

The journey began in 2014 with the QueensWay Plan, fueled by grants from New York State Parks and the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council, marking the first steps toward revitalizing this historic corridor into a green oasis for all.