Community-led design transformed 34th Avenue into an NYC green street, creating a car-free space for play, safety, and stormwater management—and a model that other neighbourhoods can adapt citywide.
In Jackson Heights, Queens, a once car-dominated corridor has become one of New York City’s most inspiring public space transformations. What began as a temporary experiment during the pandemic has turned into a lasting example of how communities can reclaim streets as green, people-centered spaces.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020, residents of this diverse neighbourhood closed 1.3 miles of 34th Avenue to traffic under the city’s Open Streets initiative. They reimagined it as a community-driven park. Today, locals call it “Paseo Park,” the city’s longest open street and one of its most successful green corridors.C
Jackson Heights is home to one of the most culturally diverse populations in the U.S., with more than 60 percent of residents born abroad. Despite its vibrancy, the area has long lacked accessible green space, ranking last in New York City for parkland per resident. The NYC green street project is changing that.
Community organizing was central to the transformation. Neighbours volunteered to place barricades each morning and remove them at night. Soon, the street came alive with gardening projects in median strips, Zumba classes, food pantries, and outdoor English lessons.
For residents like Luz Maria Mercado, now board chair of the Alliance for Paseo Park, the change has been deeply personal. She recalls envying private gardens in wealthier parts of the city as a child. Now, her own children have a safe, car-free space to play and gather right outside their building.
The transformation has also reshaped the neighbourhood’s sound and air. Where honking once dominated, children’s laughter and community activities now fill the air. Noise levels have dropped, pollution has eased, and residents report a tangible improvement in their quality of life.
The corridor has become especially important for children. Seven public schools are situated along 34th Avenue, many of which have limited outdoor facilities. The NYC green street provides more than a mile of safe space for walking, cycling, and playing.
The initiative shows how temporary measures can grow into permanent infrastructure. What started as a pandemic workaround is now supported by nearly $90 million in city funding to make Paseo Park a permanent fixture. Council Member Shekar Krishnan describes it as “a lifeline” for the community.
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Funding followed extensive community engagement. The Alliance for Paseo Park collected over 2,600 petition signatures, ran surveys in multiple languages, hosted visioning sessions, and even designed questionnaires for kids. Residents highlighted safety, continuous pedestrian space, and climate resilience as priorities for the NYC green street’s permanent design.
Working with architecture firm WXY, the community developed two main approaches: a “super sidewalk” emphasizing uninterrupted pedestrian zones, and a “super median” maximizing green space. Both include stormwater gardens, permeable pavers to reduce flooding, and retractable bollards for emergency access. Accessibility was also a priority, ensuring people with disabilities and essential vehicles could move freely.
Not everyone supports the transformation. Some residents cite increased traffic on parallel streets and the loss of parking. Organizers note, however, that supporters far outnumber critics, and political momentum remains strong.
The broader lesson of this NYC green street extends beyond Queens. It shows how neighbourhoods can reclaim streets for health, play, and resilience. Jackson Heights demonstrates that even busy urban roads can be redesigned to meet community needs when residents take the lead.
Challenges remain, including balancing the needs of pedestrians and cyclists and maintaining political support during election cycles. Yet the success so far suggests that persistence, vision, and community engagement can rewrite the story of city streets.
The NYC green street on 34th Avenue is more than a local improvement—it’s a blueprint for cities worldwide. By prioritizing people over cars, it demonstrates that urban streets can be transformed into safe, green spaces that support well-being, social connection, and environmental resilience.
