Why Greenways Are Essential for Our Communities

As we settle into the new year, it’s time to renew our commitment to creating vibrant, sustainable communities. Nationwide change is challenging, but we have a lot of opportunity to improve our local community if we work together.

One of the most impactful ways we can achieve this is by supporting the development of greenways. These beautiful, multi-use trails not only connect us to nature but also provide safe, scenic routes for walking, biking, and other forms of recreation. They enhance our quality of life by promoting physical activity, reducing traffic congestion, and improving air quality. We’ve had great success at bringing the community together to improve the Eastern Queens Greenway. Now is the time to look to the next extension, the Queens Waterfront Greenway (also known as the Northern Queens Greenway).

Join Us for the Queens Waterfront Greenway Virtual Workshop

After a brief delay, we are excited to announce the upcoming virtual workshop for the Queens Waterfront Greenway plan. The event will take place on-line at:

January 28th at 6 PM

https://forms.gle/yUMiaXLpcthqgZEw8

This event will mark the conclusion of the first feedback phase. During the workshop, we will cover all three geographic sections of the greenway and (like all other similar planning sessions) provide breakout rooms to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Your unique and informed perspective is invaluable, and we would love for you to join and contribute to this important discussion.

Changes due to Vickie Paladino’s Attack

During the last greenway meeting on October 24th, Vickie Paladino’s disruptive actions were a significant hindrance. Despite starting with seemingly open-minded remarks, she quickly shifted to criticizing cyclists. Her supporters roamed between discussion tables, making unconstructive comments and stalling productive conversations. When Vickie declared she was tired of outsiders dictating to her community and left with her friends, the noise level dropped, allowing the remaining attendees to engage in meaningful discussions about the greenway routes. Unfortunately, her actions, including surprising claims about crime and bike lanes, disrupted what could have been a more productive session focused on community safety and connectivity.

This incident underscores the need for clear conduct guidelines at community meetings to ensure constructive dialogue. This encouraged the DoT’s to delay the virtual session from it’s original schedule virtual session on October 29 2024, so that it had time to implement a code of conduct for future meetings is a positive step towards maintaining respectful and productive discussions. The small, disruptive minority should not overshadow the community’s efforts to improve safety and access through well-planned greenways. Moving forward, it’s essential to prioritize the voices of those genuinely interested in enhancing our neighborhood’s infrastructure and safety, not those just looking for another culture war.

To foster a respectful and productive atmosphere, there is a code of conduct in the registration form for this event. Attendees will need to acknowledge this code before receiving the Zoom link. We believe that setting clear expectations will encourage positive and constructive discussions in the breakout rooms.

Looking Ahead: Exploring Future Greenway Routes

Once we wrap up this workshop, the City will embark on the exciting journey of exploring potential routes for the future greenway. That’s why it’s critical the our neighborhood gives them as much local knowledge as possible. This won’t be the last time we can give feedback, but it will help set the direction for the next phase of planning.

We know first hand how Greenways have the power to transform our neighborhoods, making them more livable, accessible, and environmentally friendly. Joe Michaels Mile and the Vanderbuilt Motor Parkways are two of the best things about Eastern Queens. Let’s come together to support this fantastic initiative to extend these routes and make our community a better place for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you at the virtual workshop on January 28th! Sign up here:

https://forms.gle/yUMiaXLpcthqgZEw8

Please share this event with your network, especially people often left out of conversations about their community.