The Jackson Heights community celebrated a long-awaited milestone this week: the iconic 26-block stretch of Open Street at 34th Avenue was officially christened “Paseo Park,” a public recognition of years of neighborhood activism that transformed a pandemic necessity into one of the most vibrant pedestrian spaces in New York.
Councilman Shekar Krishnan, accompanied by community leaders, local organizations and elected officials, led the ceremony formalizing the co-appointment. The city also announced an investment of $90 million in permanent improvements to ensure the continuity and expansion of the project.
A runner who was born in the emergency and became local pride
What began in 2020 as a temporary measure to provide safe space at the epicenter of the pandemic quickly became the social, cultural and recreational heart of the neighborhood. Today, Paseo Park provides a safe corridor for 7,000 students, reduces traffic accidents by 42%, and serves as a setting for English classes, family walks, salsa dancing, and community events.
During the event, excitement mixed with the sound of local music, dance performances, poetry and food prepared by neighborhood businesses. For many, the new name not only formalizes a space, but enshrines a decades-long fight for more green space in a historically underserved community.
The community, at the center of change
Krishnan highlighted the decisive role of neighbors, volunteers and activists who defended keeping the street open when other similar initiatives disappeared in the city.
“Jackson Heights turned a pandemic need for outdoor space into 26 blocks of an open street… We have set the standard for what open streets should look like in New York City.”
Former Councilman Daniel Dromm, who pushed for the initial closure of the avenue, celebrated the achievement as a new stage for the neighborhood, while organizations such as the Alliance for Paseo Park and the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of a permanent linear park.
More than a street: a symbol of belonging
State and federal officials, including Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, noted that Paseo Park already functions as a modern public plaza, a kind of “community hall” where generations meet daily.
In the words of Assemblywoman Cruz:
“Every day I see the positive effects of this open space… it is our public plaza. The name Paseo Park reflects the history of immigrants like my family; we all deserve access to green spaces.”
The celebration also included two local Girl Scouts who received recognition for their study of children’s use of the corridor, symbolizing the intergenerational participation that has characterized this movement.
A model for the future of the city
For many urban planning and environmental groups, the naming confirms that Jackson Heights can serve as a model for other communities seeking to transform streets into quality public spaces.
With this new identity, Paseo Park marks the beginning of a chapter in which permanent improvements—from plazas to pedestrian infrastructure—promise to reinforce the space’s role as an axis of community life, culture and well-being.
