Queens Plaza / Dutch Kills Green

Queens Plaza / Dutch Kills Green Long Island City, New York City 2004 – 2012 (more)
The redesign of Queens Plaza for the NYC Economic Development Corporation and the NYC Department of City Planning transforms a tangle of urban infrastructure from a harsh, disorienting transportation maze into a lush, navigable landscape. By realigning roadways and bridge ramps, the safety, visibility and clarity of pedestrian crossings and bicycle routes were improved. A team of professionals comprised originally of Margie Ruddick Landscape leading Marpillero Pollack Architects, Michael Singer (artist) and Langan Engineering was absorbed by WRT when Ms. Ruddick joined the firm. Judith Heintz became the Principal in Charge at WRT in 2007.
The green open spaces and medians introduced into this barren urban landscape not only calm and soothe pedestrians, but also unobtrusively collect and infiltrate stormwater runoff, aiding the overtaxed sewage system. The largest of these open spaces, now known as Dutch Kills Green, is a green oasis with benches and permeable paving designed by the artist and architects, and a wetland that serves as the largest stormwater infiltration basin. Queens Plaza’s multiple components combine to redefine the idea of nature in the city, integrating infrastructure, art and ecology.