Recently, Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International unveiled renderings for an ambitious project called “Metropolitan Park,” which encompasses plans for a casino hotel near Citi Field in Queens, NY. The release of these sketches comes approximately five months after the proposal faced a significant hurdle when State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) announced she would not support legislation to change the parkland status of Willets Point. This change is crucial for transforming the area near the New York Mets stadium into a gaming venue.
“For the past three years, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his partners have been engaging with their neighbors. After hosting 16 community workshops and meeting thousands of local residents, they identified jobs and green space as the most frequently mentioned community needs. It is time for the 50 acres of asphalt at Citi Field to turn green,” according to Hard Rock.
The Cohen/Hard Rock plan envisions 25 acres of parkland for public use, which includes five acres dedicated to athletic fields, dining options, a live music venue, enhanced cycling access, and improved roads. Additionally, the project promises a $163 million community impact fund. The casino resort would be the centerpiece of the Metropolitan Park.
For decades, Willets Point has remained a mere parking lot, with multiple development efforts falling through. However, Cohen’s new proposal is marked by bold ambitions. The 25-acre park’s design, by SHoP Architects and Field Operations, incorporates ideas and feedback collected from 15 community workshops, hundreds of meetings with local leaders, and over 20,000 door-to-door conversations. The design also pays homage to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s World’s Fair history and architecture, as well as the storied history of the Mets, Shea Stadium, and Citi Field.
In addition to green spaces, the plan aims to improve infrastructure, including the renovation of the Mets-Willets Point 7 train station. There is also a significant employment commitment, with the project promising to create 23,000 permanent and temporary jobs.
The earlier decision by Ramos to not support legislation altering parkland designation poses a challenge to the casino proposal, but it is not necessarily a fatal setback. While she represents the district that includes Willets Point, any state Senate member could introduce a bill to change the property’s parkland status. This offers a glimmer of hope for Metropolitan Park supporters, particularly given that New York politicians and regulators have been slow to open bidding for three downstate casino permits. State Rep. Jeff Aubry (D-Queens) introduced a related bill in the New York Assembly last year, but companion legislation is required to move the bill forward.
