Exploring the Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights
Eric Schaffer has forwarded recent images of remnants of the Long Island Motor Parkway in Wheatley Heights.
Eric Shaffer: "I had a week off recently and decided to explore one of my favorite sections of the Motor Parkway. There is much to see in this area which is still pretty much unchanged since the Motor Parkway closed in 1938. Starting by Colonial Springs Road and working north the ROW parallels Conklin/Bagatelle Road for over a mile. Some of it has been dug up during the development of the area, but most of the roadway is still there under the dirt if you look for it. I found more than expected."
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Comments
Nice going, Eric. This area of the LIMP say from Colonial Springs Rd then northerly to the LIE is interesting because of the original roadway being more and less hidden. Some of us have braved the ROW that’s east of Bagatelle, then north to the LIE. Like you said, the pavement is just below the soil.
Don’t know if anyone has been able to explore the ROW that is north of Butterfly Park, up to Threepence Dr. Realize this would require permission, about 1/2 of it is rear property of Bagatelle, other 1/2 curves to rear property of Farmington. Maybe it has been demolished, perhaps not. It would be interesting to investigate.
Maps below are 1984 and Current. Kind of hard to see, but the LIMP is visible in 1984 through the rear properties.
Thanks for continuing to explore, Eric.
Frank - here’s my web page for the area west of Bagatelle (probably did that exploration around 15 years ago). Not sure what’s still there.
https://limparkway.webs.com/bagatelle-road-west
Pics from our 2017 Vanderbilt Day in this zone:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sam_daves_excellent_motor_parkway_hike_viii_wheatley_hills_half_hollows_hil
Then continuing east from that point, you get to this:
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/sam_daves_excellent_motor_parkway_hike_ix_the_finish_line_half_hollows_hill