Queens casino in the park?

We’re reluctantly coming around to Steve Cohen’s proposal for the Citi Field parking lot. Seeing a broad overhead schematic of the plan for the first time this week, we’ve gone from philosophically opposed to perhaps positive and cautiously optimistic.

Look, the space is parkland by law, and that’s why we’ve been against building anything there. But it’s also, as Cohen loves to point out, “50 acres of asphalt.” The lot has spots for 7,500 cars, and we love to see Mets fans fill them up, but when the space is not utilized, it’s a barren wasteland. Not so under the billionaire team owner’s vision.

Above all, Cohen wants a casino there. He’s hoping to get one of three licenses that will be going to downstate gambling — excuse us, gaming — operations. It’s a tall order. If he succeeds, he wants to create “Metropolitan Park,” a destination that would include the casino, a hotel, a live music venue, a food hall with Queens vendors and, crucially, 20 acres of open space. Supposedly you’ll have a nice environment through which to walk all the way to the b ay if you wish. And there’ll be a better boardwalk between the Long Island Rail Road and subway stations.

Where will all the cars go, you wonder? Into several parking garages festooned with solar panels to appease the greenies (who already are voicing opposition to the plan). Cohen is required to retain those 7,500 spaces.

You can find our story on the plan, including the schematic, in all of this week’s editions or at qchron.com.

We like that the area would look a lot nicer. Unlike the city’s plans for Willets Point, on the other side of Citi Field, no one needs to be displaced to create Metropolitan Park — which we’re sure will be called Mets Park from the get-go. (Five-syllable words are not exactly in vogue today.) Maybe that’s part of the plan — though it won’t help win games.

We also like that the project would create 15,000 jobs, between construction and “permanent” positions. While unemployment is not especially high, ideally everyone who wants a job should be able to get one. The more the better.

The big question with all of this is what happens if Cohen does not get a casino license. Resorts World by Aqueduct likely will; could there really be two gambling meccas in Queens? We doubt it. And will state Sen. Jessica Ramos approve the necessary parkland alienation? So far she’s given no indication. This project is no sure thing, but it will be interesting to see how Cohen plays his hand.