Jackson Heights is one of the city's most lively and interesting neighborhoods, reputed to be one of the most diverse places in the world. Some have counted over 160 languages spoken in this section of Queens.
What Jackson Heights doesn't have is a park, or not much of one anyway. Alliance for Paseo Park is trying to change that by transforming a 26-block, mile-plus stretch of 34th Avenue into a linear park. We paid a visit recently to see how it's coming along.
So, is Paseo Park closed to automobile traffic?
Best answer I have right now: Yes and no. No and yes.
The Greenmarket sets up shop here on Sundays, a nice consonance. (The tents in the following photo are the giveaway.)
Are there festive, colorful blocks adorning these blocks? That's a yes.
The project grew out of NYC's pandemic-spawned Open Streets program, which sets aside stretches of certain avenues around the city for pedestrians only on Saturdays in the summer and has become a permanent feature of city life.
Why "Paseo Park?" "Paseo" means "a leisurely stroll or promenade" in Spanish.
While on your stroll or promenade, you'll come upon an existing park. Travers Park is primarily a playground and sports facility, but has enough spots for passive recreation that it merits a mention here. One unusual feature is a big grassy field that doesn't seem to be designated for anything but lolling about.
Not unusual are these stone chess tables, a common sight in New York City's parks.
Trees were in bloom on the day of our visit.
Travers Park also has its own "Friends of" organization.
Thomas J. Travers (1897–1958) was a community leader. Here's what I liked about the brief bio on the Parks Department website:
"After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War I, he returned to New York to marry his childhood sweetheart, Ann Desmond."
A New York Times article headlined "Jackson Heights, Global Town Square" reported in 2020:
Even by New York standards, Jackson Heights is changing so fast and contains so many different communities that no single walk can begin to take in the whole neighborhood. There’s a booming Latin American cultural scene, a growing Nepali and Tibetan contingent, an urban activist movement, pioneering car bans on local streets. This is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district, and it is represented by a longtime openly gay city councilman named Daniel Dromm.
Open streets? Openly gay? All you have to do is open your mind, and look: a new park.
Taking a walk in Jackson Heights? Park Odyssey recommends a dosa and a curry at vegetarian South Indian restaurant Samudra followed by ice cream at Jahn's.
All photos © Oren Hope
