National Park Service Proposes Improvements to Parks in South Queens

The National Park Service released a plan for the Gateway National Recreational Area, which encompasses parks in South Queens like the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Howard Beach’s Charles Park. The Forum reports that the proposal to expand the public use of Gateway includes “‘improved amenities and recreation facilities’ as trails and campsites, more community-based recreation such as sports leagues and event spaces, environmental educational programming, development of water trails, and expansion of beach access.” It’s the result of four years of planning by the National Park Service; now the final plan is up for public review. It’s expected that the National Park Service will adopt the plan, but it’s unclear if it’ll actually become a reality — according to the Forum, many of the plans put forth by the NPS never come to fruition.

Nearby residents worry that the increased amenities will bring more crowds to the area. There are also concerns that the NPS doesn’t adequately care for existing land now open to the public. The public will have a chance to comment and learn more about the proposal this Saturday, May 17th at the Jamaica Bay Greenway Coalition meeting. It’s at 10:30 am at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

South Queens Residents Voice Concerns Over Final Gateway Plan [The Forum]

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