Behind the Scenes of QueensWay, Queens’ Next Major Destination
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By Michael Perlman | mperlman@queensledger.com
“Hop aboard The QueensWay!”… Not to catch a train, since trains were last decommissioned from the LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch Line in 1962 due to minimal passenger counts and fire damage, but for the first linear park and cultural greenway of its kind in Queens. The QueensWay will be stationed along an abandoned route, such as where a Forest Hills trestle on Metropolitan Avenue bears a stone inscription of 1908. Fast-forwarding, late 2026 will mark the groundbreaking of The QueensWay’s construction, complete with community leaders driving shovels into the soil alongside a lush forested but long-neglected industrial backdrop for phase 1.
Enter the world of Forest Hills resident Karen Imas, a creative visionary and diverse government relations, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement professional in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She serves as Director of Climate and Resiliency Policy at the Office of the NYC Comptroller. She once managed external affairs policy at Attentive Energy, which focused on clean energy, and was previously the program and policy lead with Waterfront Alliance. At CMW Strategies, she represented land use, infrastructure, and nonprofit clients. Above all, she has Queens communities and their future at heart.
The QueensWay will bridge Central and Southern Queens communities including Rego Park, Forest Hills, Woodhaven, Glendale, Richmond Hill, and Ozone Park, and also anchor Queens enthusiasts through recreation, the arts, cultural foods, and historic and environmental preservation. It also bridges historically disconnected residential areas. A much-needed green space will feature current and new diverse trees, native vegetation, and edible gardens. A pedestrian and bike path will offer a newly commanding bird’s-eye exposure of neighborhoods, and enable access to nearby bike lanes en route to Rockaway Beach and Jamaica Bay’s recreational spaces, as well as five subway lines, numerous commercial corridors, and schools.
Imas shared an abundance of benefits. “New public parkland will add crucial green space in neighborhoods that are underserved, particularly south of Forest Park. The QueensWay will create safe, dedicated biking and walking trails connecting neighborhoods from Forest Hills to Ozone Park. We will expand access to natural areas, linking directly into Forest Park. Tree canopies and green infrastructure will address flood mitigations. Public health benefits pertain to the active lifestyles of walking, running, and cycling for the nearly 250,000 residents living within a 20-minute walk. The QueensWay will offer alternative walking and biking routes to local schools and transit hubs. Economically, the QueensWay will boost foot traffic for neighborhood restaurants and immigrant-owned small businesses.”
QueensWay from Forest Park. Photo by Michael Perlman.
A wide range of recreation, activities, and special events will undoubtedly continue to evolve. Opportunities will also pertain to designated public spaces for performances and live music, community gatherings, public art, games, and movie screenings. “There will also be opportunities for cultural programming that celebrates the extraordinary diversity of Queens, along with environmental education, nature programming, and activities connected to the corridor’s native plants and wildlife. The goal is to create a place that is active year-round and gives different communities and generations many reasons to enjoy the QueensWay,” said Imas.
It all began in 2011, when Queens residents living alongside the abandoned LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch had an ambitious vision, joined forces, and began advocating for its revitalization into a vibrant yet serene public park. Imas reminisced, “This grassroots effort led to the creation of Friends of the QueensWay, a community-driven organization supported by hundreds of individuals and groups through petitions, fundraisers, cleanups, tours, and events. Their shared vision was to reimagine this 3.5-mile stretch as a thriving greenway for walkers, joggers, cyclists, and visitors from Queens and beyond.”
Friends of the QueensWay partnered with Trust for Public Land to engage the community by gathering feedback, and develop a plan to transform 47 acres into a green space that consolidates neighborhoods while boosting economic and cultural growth. “What began as a grassroots vision evolved for more than a decade into a community-supported, city-backed project. The vision has been shaped by hundreds of conversations with residents, community organizations, elected officials, and other stakeholders, ultimately bringing the QueensWay from an idea to a project moving towards construction this fall,” explained Imas.
The dynamic development team consists of Techno + Sasaki for design and engineering, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and NYC Parks. Friends of the QueensWay staff and board members reside in communities along the QueensWay, and consist of inaugural executive director John Surico, Karen Imas, Ruben Ramales, Travis Terry, Andrea Crawford, Doug McPherson, Allison Sesso, and Sharon Levy.
Between fall 2022 and 2026, the city announced over $50,000,000 in funding to complete the design and construction of the QueensWay’s Metropolitan Hub segment. “The intent of this section, which stretches from Metropolitan Avenue to Union Turnpike and spans 0.3 miles, is to build phase 1 of the new greenway adjacent to the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School,” said Imas.
Throughout the 15-year community initiative, Friends of the QueensWay developed an active steering committee of local residents and volunteers, and hosted over 150 engagement events, tours, and informational sessions throughout Central Queens, alongside partners from the Trust for Public Land. Thousands of residents were engaged in a community dialogue. In 2023, the EDC and NYC Parks held virtual sessions, where community feedback was compiled to prioritize the design and programming.
Imas explained, “We hosted educational walks and classroom sessions with Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School students, site tours with planners, architects, and environmental organizations, bike tours around the vicinity of the QueensWay with cycling enthusiasts, tabling with local business owners at street fairs, and importantly, public cleanups, walking tours, and information sessions.” One must wonder if artifacts have been uncovered, and in fact, the corridor harbors substantial railroad-era remnants, such as fragments of former stations and the rails. More treasures are bound to be excavated as construction commences. However, most uncovered items are illegally dumped car parts, tires, and electronics.
Volunteer opportunities are plentiful and can be found on the QueensWay’s social media and Trust For Public Land’s website. An upcoming public cleanup of the QueensWay in Forest Park will be held on September 27 at 10:30 AM (meet at Stop & Shop), and The QueensWay 5K 2026 will be on October 4 at 9 AM at Victory Field.
Elected officials provided QueensWay endorsements, and Queenswide supporter organizations include Trust for Public Land, Queens Tourism Council, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Forest Hills Crescent Civic Association, Regional Plan Association, Forest Hills Youth Athletic Association, Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Richmond Hill Historical Society, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, New Yorkers for Parks, Transportation Alternatives, Metro Village of Forest Hills, New York League of Conservation Voters, Association for a Better New York, Citizens Committee for NYC, Ridgewood Glendale Little League, Center for an Urban Future, Rajkumari Cultural Center, Center for Active Design, Queens Distance Runners, and Earth Citizens Club of Queens NY.
Historical knowledge and features along an abandoned train line grant public inspiration and offer a behind-the-scenes spirit that presents a story to the modern eye. It has been 64 years since abandonment, which builds upon its early twentieth century origins. “Trees sprouted and matured along the former right-of-way, creating a dense canopy and a diverse habitat for birds and other wildlife,” said Imas. However, abandonment poses several cons. She continued, “With little management, illegal dumping is an increasing problem. Trash and remnants of drug and alcohol use litter the ground. Degraded soil and invasive vegetation of railway embankments allow stormwater to flood adjacent homes and backyards. Many people are unaware of this hidden stretch of trees and dense undergrowth intermingling with the old rails, with viaduct bridges at road crossings providing the rare clue to the 3.5-mile path stretching from Rego Park to Ozone Park.”
With every great project, as time has proven, some members disagree or lack confidence in the QueensWay, and therefore, the planners have been very mindful. “We take public feedback seriously and recognize that people have legitimate questions about privacy, property impacts, maintenance, access, and the future of the corridor. Our approach is to listen, understand specific concerns, and determine whether it can be addressed through design, operations, or additional information,” said Imas. “Community engagement is not just about promoting the QueensWay, but rather an opportunity to improve the project and ensure a transparent process. Our responsibility is for those affected to have a meaningful opportunity to be heard, and their concerns receive a substantive response.”
Residents ask questions about the potential for crime and raised concerns about cleanliness, but Imas and her colleagues ensure safety and cleanliness as a fundamental towards the QueensWay’s success. “The design incorporates clear sightlines, lighting, multiple access points, and active public spaces to create a well-used, visible environment. Currently, NYC Parks among our city will be responsible for ongoing maintenance and security,” said Imas. “We also envision strong community stewardship, with residents and local organizations keeping the corridor clean and cared for. A place that is active, visible, and maintained is more likely to feel safe and welcoming to everyone who uses it.”
Furthermore, decades of empirical evidence signify that converting abandoned, overgrown rail corridors into managed public pathways consistently decreases illicit activity. Countrywide, greenway and rails-to-trails models have a longstanding track record of success, transforming abandoned industrial corridors into vibrant, beautiful, and memorable public destinations that offer measurable economic, environmental, and public health benefits. As trees and flowers blossom, personal relationships have too.
A cleanup & tour of the planned QueensWay’s Forest Park ravine area. Courtesy of Friends of the QueensWay.
Residents will also develop a multi-level relationship with nature. Core design elements are a rich collection of native plants, shrubby understory providing important habitat, and a trail shaded by a light canopy of trees and biodiversity/ecological restoration. For the several decades of abandonment, trees sprouted and matured, creating a dense canopy and a diverse habitat for birds and wildlife. However, invasive plants constricted native tree species. Ailanthus, poison ivy, and Japanese knotweed will be addressed. Imas explained, “Tree canopy and vegetation is critical green infrastructure in flood-prone Central Queens. This project can also be an important piece of neighborhood flood resilience. The existing railroad embankments have degraded soils and vegetation that contribute to runoff into neighboring properties. The project will restore native vegetation, stabilize embankments, and incorporate rain gardens, bioswales, and other green infrastructure to capture and slow stormwater.”
A renewed respect for wildlife awaits, as The QueensWay is destined to become a living laboratory for urban biodiversity. “The project is restoring a native habitat that can support birds, butterflies, and pollinators along the Atlantic Flyway. Since the corridor runs alongside schools, there’s an opportunity for students to monitor that biodiversity, and observe how the ecosystem changes over time,” said Imas.
Small business partnerships bear much potential, and are already underway. Imas and her team feels incredibly excited about the prospects for such activity and economic development across the Metropolitan Avenue corridor as the launching point. “Friends of the QueensWay built a relationship with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Metro Village of Forest Hills, and looks forward to creating opportunities for small businesses to be more embedded in our project. Every $1 invested in parks and recreation generates at least $3 in annual local economic benefits, according to TPL’s 2026 analysis,” said Imas.
Besides preserving early twentieth century industrial relics that entail trestles and towers, the QueensWay fosters an opportunity for creative decor by planners, designers, and community artists including school students, and could offer a gallery ambiance. She explained, “We hope to create opportunities for sculptures, murals, installations, and outdoor exhibits that respond to the bridges, rail infrastructure, landscape, and neighborhoods along the corridor. We would also love to see local schools, artists, and community organizations involved through art projects, competitions and rotating exhibitions, giving artists a platform and allowing the communities along the QueensWay to help shape its identity.”
When the QueensWay’s key parties are not focusing on the initiative, they are pursuing a multitude of interests, although the QueensWay can be a time-consuming labor of love. Imas explained, “We are local parents and residents, as well as volunteers and leaders in youth, civic, religious, cultural, and community organizations throughout Queens. Our board also includes people with expertise in housing and community development, health and human services, architecture and planning, government and public affairs, economic development, parks and open space, and more. What connects us is a shared view that the QueensWay can help address many characteristics our neighborhoods need more of, including safe and accessible open space, recreation, opportunities for young residents, environmental resilience, arts and culture, and stronger connections between communities. That diversity is one of the strengths of Friends of the QueensWay.”
In the short-term, Friends of the QueensWay looks forward to working with city partners and the Forest Park Trust to ensure that phase 1 is well maintained upon completion. In the long-term, the organization highly anticipates collaborating with the City of New York to secure further funding and advance plans for future phases.
Stay tuned for next week’s column, which will provide a first-hand, in-depth perspective at the QueensWay’s very first executive director, John Surico, who will share his background, vision, and goals.
