Tag: Queens
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Oct 17 2009
The Motor Parkway in Hollis Hills, Queens
Art, one of the best preserved sections of the Motor Parkway is near your parent's home in Hollis Hills, Queens. When the parkway closed on April 17, 1938, Robert Moses created a bike path over the first two and half miles in Queens. The bike path is still very active today and includes three well-preserved, original Motor Parkway bridges over Hollis Hills Terrace (see above), 73rd Avenue and Springfield Boulevard.
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Oct 14 2009
Motor Parkway from Little Neck Parkway to Marcus Avenue Part II
Joe, thanks for the comment and excellent observation. LIMP expert Sam Berliner agrees with you and suggested the Motor Parkway bridge that I labeled Little Neck Parkway actually went over Hewlett Avenue. To determine the facts, I called in the LIMP CSI Team and requested a Concrete Scene Investigation.
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Oct 08 2009
The Motor Parkway from Little Neck Parkway to Marcus Avenue Part I
Elliott, thanks for the questions. First, the pavement of the Long Island Motor Parkway was only 16 to 22 feet across. The Motor Parkway right-of way (the area purchased by Vanderbilt and his business associates) was typically 50 feet to 100 feet in width. The property lines and the guardrails for the Motor Parkway were often indicated by concrete posts (described extensively on Sam Berliner's wonderful Motor Parkway website). Hundreds of these posts are still in place today from Fresh Meadows…
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Sep 04 2009
The Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Over Little Neck Parkway in Queens
Here is a rare photo of the Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge over Little Neck Parkway courtesy of the Queens Borough President's Collection. Looking north, this 1928 photo was taken in rural Queens.
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Aug 14 2009
Queens Urban Park Rangers to Tour the Motor Parkway on Sunday
The Queens Courier reports that Urban Park Rangers will conduct a walking tour of the Queens section of the Long Island Motor Parkway this Sunday: On Sunday, August 16 at noon travel back in time as the Urban Park Rangers discuss the History of Vanderbilt Motor Parkway at Cunningham Park. Meet at the Union Turnpike parking lot at 197th Street. Call 718-846-2731 for details.
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May 02 2009
The Proposed Motor Parkway Monorail in Queens
In the early 1930s, the crushing impact of the Depression coupled with the ever-expanding free New York State highly system effectively sealed the fate of the Long Island Motor Parkway. Several innovative proposals were made for the parkway's right-of-way, including a monorail rapid transit system proposed by the Queens Chamber of Commerce in 1935. The above image is from the files of Wiliam K. Vanderbilt Jr. and courtesy of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.
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Mar 24 2009
Motor Parkway Presentation in Queens
Al Velocci and I focused last Sunday on the Queens section of the Long Island Motor Parkway at a Queens Historical Society presentation.
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Feb 18 2009
The Toll Kiosks of the Motor Parkway
Bruce, according to my research, eight of the 20 Long Island Motor Parkway toll collection structures were kiosks, booths or shanties. As discussed last week, it is my opinion that the above kiosk at Nassau Boulevard (as seen on July 9, 1938) was originally built by the Motor Parkway. As shown below, the Nassau Boulevard Toll Lodge (kiosk) was similar (although smaller) than kiosks in Lake Success, Mineola and Brentwood.
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Feb 10 2009
In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part III
Sunday's post In Search of the Fresh Meadows Toll Booth: Part I documented that the Motor Parkway designated two new "toll lodges" in Queens when the Nassau Boulevard entrance was opened on July 1, 1928. The existence of the Rocky Hill Road Toll Booth was confirmed in both aerial photos and a dramatic ground-level photo. Tuesday's post In Search of the Fresh Meadows Toll Booth: Part II began the search for its sister toll booth at Nassau Boulevard. Tonight, more amazing images appear for the…
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Feb 09 2009
In Search of the Nassau Boulevard Toll Booth: Part II
In Sunday's post In Search of the Fresh Meadows Toll Booth: Part I, it was documented that the Motor Parkway designated two new "toll lodges" in Queens when the Nassau Boulevard entrance was opened on July 1, 1928. The existence of the unique Rocky Hill Road Toll Booth, which crossed the Motor Parkway near Springfield Road, was confirmed in both aerial photos and the above ground level photo. But, what about its sister toll booth at the western terminus at Nassau Boulevard?
