Today is the opening day for the Northern end of the Gantry Plaza State Park.  Since the weather was extremely pleasant with no rain and not too hot at all, I went to explore this new green space after work!

The original Gantry Plaza State Park was unique with its piers and the restored gantries, but the problem with it is it’s too small, too narrow with not enough green space, it was less of a park but more of a very nice looking waterfront.  This new Northern addition remedied the problem by adding a really really beautiful big lawn, it’s so lush and green that I couldn’t believe it used to be an industrial wasteland! Completed with some cool furniture it become such an incredible awesome place to relax! The view of the city skyline is breathtaking already, not to mention the cool looking Pepsi Sign sitting right there! Seriously my goal is to have enough money to live in those high-rise by this park!

Compared to Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Long Island City waterfront neighborhood might look very very good, but it still lacks the shops and the stores and restaurants that makes Willyburg and GP way more livable.  Don’t get me wrong, the Park and the high-rises in LIC are so nice, but from what I can see the streets are deserted, and the main commercial street is Vernon Blvd with some stores.  I think the neighborhood still need some times to develop.  And the Park isn’t done yet, it will continue to expand to the North way passed the Pepsi Sign, and also toward the South.  Hopefully when both the Park and the neighborhood are truly ready, i’ll be ready too.

Related posts:

1. Williamsburg Waterfront Sculpture Exhibition
2. High Line Stories
3. Thoughts on High Line
4. The High Line at Night
5. The High Line

Tagged: Long Island City · New York · parks