Advocating for Public Space in a Pandemic
Sharvari Raje, Tal Fuerst, Einat Lubliner, and Kunal Mokasdar M.S. AUD
Not many would know that Eastern Queens is home to beautiful parks rich with natural resources. While the parks are geographically close to each other, they are physically isolated and many existing pathways are disconnected. While a few plans to connect these parks were drawn in the 1970s and 1980s, neither were fully implemented.
reimagine Upon conducting research and community outreach, the value of this network of parks to the surrounding communities became evident. Residents use them for sports, leisure and family time, and essential day-to-day activities. However, massive highways and infrastructure systems built in the 1970s resulted in multiple gaps and barriers between the parks. They not only altered the physicality of the space, but also left inconsistencies in a landscape that was meant to be for people and ecology to flourish in the city. Many inaccessible and accident prone zones have immediately excluded parts of the community – mostly the elderly, children and disabled. For the last few years, caring members of the community have been advocating to address these inconsistencies and create a continuous, protected and accessible
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trail that serves walkers, joggers and cyclists along the historically-proposed greenway. The proposed pedestrian routes and bike lanes would encourage sustainable modes of transportation and walkability, significantly improving public health. At a time when access to open public space is especially important, it is crucial to think about its quality and long term feasibility. Our process began when concerned community representatives sought to expand their advocacy efforts. The cancellation of their annual event, Tour de Flushing, in July 2020, instigated the rethinking of their advocacy methods. Prior to the pandemic, the event raised awareness and garnered incredible support for the Eastern Queens Greenway (EQGW). We collaborated with local activists and Transportation Alternatives
