Walk the QueensWay, an Abandoned Railway Trail
Walk the Future QueensWay, an Abandoned Rail Trail
Photos Courtesy of QueensWay Project
- September 27th
- 3:00pm - 5:00 PM ET
- In-Person
- FREE for Insiders
- Registration Opens on September 13th at 12:00 PM ET
Get a sneak peek of the QueensWay, a 3.5 mile stretch of the former LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch through Central Queens, with the Trust for Public Land and Friends of the QueensWay!
- Learn about the process of converting an abandoned railway into a linear park and cultural greenway
- Visit the location of Phase 1 (MetHub) & Phase 2 (Forest Park Pass) of the QueensWay Project
- See railway remnants near the existing trail system in Forest Park, the 3rd largest park in the borough of Queens, named for its many trees
- Enjoy the QueensWay summer foliage as you walk the in-progress path
About the event:
Join Trust for Public Land and Friends of the QueensWay for an early look at the QueensWay! Tour the future site of the QueensWay Sections 1 & 2 (the Metropolitan Hub and Forest Park Pass) and learn about the current Section 1 design process. This will also include updates on recent City and Federal investments that will advance this exciting rails-to-trails opportunity for the community.
Things to Know:
- What to wear: We encourage closed-toe-shoes (comfortable/walking), and pants for hiking through the park section
- The tour will take about two-hours, spanning approximately 1.5 miles as we weave through city streets adjoining the QueensWay, and includes a walk on the rail bed, through a ravine in Forest Park
- The walk on the rail bed at the end takes 20-25 minutes. It will be harder for anyone with a wheelchair, bike, or baby carriage to walk on the rail bed
- The tour will begin at a different location than our end point at Forest Park; please plan accordingly.
About Your Guides:
Ruben Ramales Assoc. AIA, NOMA, is a native New Yorker raised in Woodhaven, Queens, who draws on his local experiences to guide his work—fostering partnerships, collaboration, and engagement. Ruben is a Senior Manager of Component Engagement with the American Institute of Architects, working across states to advance the impact and awareness of local AIA chapters. As the former Executive Director of the Queens Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Queens), Ruben holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology. Ruben has led QueensWay community outreach and engagement formerly as an Outreach Coordinator with the Trust for Public Land, a project partner of Friends of the QueensWay. Currently, Ruben also serves on the boards of Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society and Latimer House Museum. Ruben enjoys heading into Forest Park trails with his pit bull Lily when not partaking in professional or civic opportunities.
Ali Goldfarb, New York Field Program Coordinator, has been with Trust for Public Land for 6 years, working to realize New York parks and trails projects. In her time at Trust for Public Land, she has successfully led community engagement sessions, worked with project partners to bring a community climbing boulder to NYC, and handled matters relating to grant management and administration. Ali graduated from Colgate University having majored in Geography.
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