Back in 2020, when scamdemic lockdown began, the road between Park Lane South and Myrtle Avenue, “Freedom Drive” was closed everyday 24/7, and in 2021, permanently, with gates installed. The phony excuse by then DeBlasio admin. and continued by Adams admin. was and still is, “for recreation” so people can bike, walk, jog, with no traffic. Forest Park’s 500+ acres and paths are also near this entire road, and was and is always available to folks for such purposes. What this move was about, it seems to me: anti-car.
What is ignored (and the city went over the heads of drivers in this area for opinions): This road gets vehicles off dangerous Woodhaven Blvd. on both sides of the Blvd. including the Forest Park Drive off southbound Blvd. that goes past the bandshell parking lot and the carousel and the bandshell. Actually, the carousel road is open only during daytime, closed off / gated at night. Drivers lose a safer way to cut through Forest Park and get to the other side of Woodhaven at Forest Parkway, and to access the Jackie Robinson Pkwy. Also there are sidewalks on either side of this drive through park that goes past section of the FP Golf Course for walkers, bikers.
The Myrtle Ave/Park Lane South FP Drive stretch of road provides drivers a way to get to Richmond Hill without turning lanes on either Park Lane South/Woodhaven Blvd. or Jamaica Avenue, where there have been multiple accidents over the years. And, there are broad sidewalks on either side of the road for people, bikers.
This was forced on people and remains in place. The scamdemic is long over. This closure now permanent with gates that are locked by NYPD/DOT, is just more dictatorship and anti-car and anti-real, proven safety for drivers/pedestrians.
Please look into this and speak about it. Thank you. Judy (Woodhaven)
A resident of Forest Park Co-ops, who used to use those Forest Park Drives a lot over almost 30 years living here; never heard of accidents on them — compared to Woodhaven Blvd.!!!!