Far Rockaway Park
QRP led the planning and design efforts that transformed over 17 acres of parking lots and fenced lots into new park spaces that unite the community. The park encourages activity for all users and age groups, providing places to play in new playgrounds and water sprays, work out on fitness equipment, skateboard in a premier skate park, relax under a tree, or picnic on the lawn and watch a concert or movie at the new performance facility. This NYC Parks project consists of two sites along the Far Rockaway waterfront.
At O'Donohue Park, located between Beach 9th and Beach 17th Streets we transformed a 500-car parking lot into a resilient park featuring both active and passive recreation. At one end a new sculpted green lawn provides a space for passive recreation and serves as a natural viewing area for the new performance stage.
The rolling lawn provides elevation on the otherwise flat site, opening new views of the ocean over the dunes and also provides flood protection for the residential area to the north. Around the lawn are new picnic areas, seating, and plantings. A small toddler play area is located close to the picnic area, and a water play area at the promenade features cooling spray posts.
A state-of-the-art concrete skate park anchors an active recreation zone that includes new basketball and handball courts and a bouldering wall that offers a unique climbing experience. Between the skate park and the courts we located a plaza shaded by trees, with terraced seating steps, custom designed fitness equipment, ping pong tables and seating, creating a casual space for users and spectators of the active recreation facilities to meet, relax and work-out.
The western site between Beach 28th and Beach 32nd Streets was undeveloped with derelict parking lots neighboring low rise housing with a large public elementary/middle school adjacent to the site.
In this area we provided a new full-size artificial turf football and soccer field and running track, flanked by native plantings and bleacher seating. A new public restroom building, designed by WXY Architects, features a shaded deck that provides a gathering space for park users, sports and school groups. Fitness equipment and a small picnic area are provided between the building and sports field.
Nearby, the new Beach 30th Street Playground includes a variety of equipment, a teen challenge course, and a large low net climber to provide different play experiences for all age groups. A popular water play area includes a concrete boat, spray posts and a sand area with digging and water play tools. To the north of the play space we enhanced a naturally occurring wetland area with additional plantings and a deck and shade structure that functions as an outdoor classroom and viewing area.
Storm water throughout the park is infiltrated on site, with no connection to city storm drains. The subbase profile of the synthetic turf field was designed to promote drainage through an under-drainage system connected to large diameter infiltration pipes. Parking areas drain to planted rain gardens, with plants selected to provide habitat for native birds and wildlife.
Throughout the park the existing natural dune habitats are preserved and hundreds of new trees were planted to shade the site. New plantings also include many shrubs and grasses tolerant of the maritime location. Despite its beachfront location the park escaped major damage from several large storms that have impacted the Rockaways. The sculpted landforms, durable materials and drainage system designed for infiltration all contributed to its resilience.
The size and complexity of the project involved multiple permitting issues and coordination with city agencies including NYSDEC, NYCDEP, NYCDOT and NYCSBS, as well as an extensive public outreach program to reach a consensus on the park design, and the management of two simultaneous projects during construction. The DEC Coastal Erosion Hazard Area limited the extent of new work at the beach side of the site and required an additional level of reviews and approvals.
Location
Far Rockaway, Queens, NY
Client
NYC Parks
Role
Prime Consultant
Team
WXY Architects
HDR Civil Engineers
