Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Delivers Remarks Announcing Funding for Phase One of the Queensway Park

September 16, 2022

Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Operations: Good afternoon, everyone. And it is certainly a beautiful afternoon. I'd like to thank everyone for gathering in this gorgeous parking lot behind what's going to be a gorgeous park thanks to today's announcement. And, first, I'd like you to hear from the man who made all this possible, our mayor, Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much. And really the group that has made it possible are those who are standing behind us. We really want to thank them for their vision as we deal with reclaiming spaces for communities. New York City's a five borough city and all boroughs deserve access to high quality park space, something that they've all advocated for. We're excited to be here today to announce a $35 million investment to deliver phase one of the QueensWay. Something that has been asked for for a long time, and we are happy to be announcing this today. This project, this community wanted for decades. It is not new, for decades, and being able to accomplish this is crucial.

Phase one will convert abandoned railroad tracks which have been used as a dumping ground or worse into a five acre linear park and provides a safe way for residents to walk, to jog, to enjoy the open space. We've learned during COVID-19 how important it is to have good-quality open space and it can't be just in one part of the city. We all celebrate the use of Central Park. Well, this park is going to be the center of the lives of this area, this community so they can enjoy the open space that we have here. QueensWay improves quality of life, improves the air quality, and it promotes both physical and mental wellbeing. And it gives more visibility to businesses along the route. And so this is an economic stimulant as well.

We all know, we've known for a long time, that linear parks are successful. We see what's happening in the High Line of Manhattan. Every time I visit there, I say we could have High Line and high times in the outer boroughs as well and that is why we're bringing this to this amazing community here in Queens. Because of the density of our city, linear parks penetrate deep into neighborhoods and don't just focus on one particular area. It will allow us to go further in, opens space, and it allows eye sores like what's behind us to become, from an eye sore, to an oasis. And they showcase our creativity and just this can-do spirit that we are embracing in this city again. We are moving from a city of no to a city of yes and QueensWay is the way we are going to go throughout this entire city and ensure that open space, green ways, good, clean environments for children and families will continue to grow in this city.

So I thank you all for what you have done, for your advocacy. The beauty is unimaginable. When you look at that photo over to the left, and we're going to sneak and get a peak of that photo there, imagine this turning into that. That's a great achievement and it is a legacy. People walking through here, having conversations, being able to engage and interact with each other again. This is what parks have to offer, and I'm just really proud to make this announcement and all those people who advocated on behalf of this announcement. Congratulations and thank you.

Deputy Mayor Joshi: Thank you very much, Mayor. I'm Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for Operations. And one important hallmark of the Adams administration is we consider parks as part of our city's infrastructure. That hasn't been the case in years past, but as fundamental as parks are to our wellbeing, our climate resiliency, and to our health and peace of mind, they absolutely are at the core of our infrastructure. So today is an absolute moment of advancement in New York City's infrastructure, our foundation, as we celebrate the (inaudible) hubs. So thank you. It's also part of our commitment to parks, expanding our green space throughout the city. And because a right of way is a terrible thing to waste, it's recycling a right of way, which is a really, really valuable commodity in New York City and being creative about how we use that right of way.

It's also another example of how the Adams administration doesn't work in silos. This project will be managed by both Parks and EDC. We'll have our green space experts as well as our contracting experts together to work on it to make sure that it's delivered hopefully under budget and be ahead of schedule. So I'd like to thank all the city agencies for coming together to make sure that we're working in partnership to deliver for New Yorkers. And, finally, I really want to thank the decades of work that have gone into advocating. From merchants to electives to community residents to nonprofits. And as I had a few moments ahead of this event in Trader Joe's, which is packed, by the way, absolutely packed...

I can only imagine how many thankful people that are now shopping will be so much more thankful when they can enjoy this green space. So thank you very much. 

(New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, New York State Senator Leroy Comrie, New York State Assembly Members Jenifer Rajkumar, David Weprin, and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Andrea Crawford, and Carter Strickland speak.)