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Print Friendly Map<p>This trail is the legacy of the first elevated roadway in the United States, constructed by William K. Vanderbilt in 1904. Vanderbilt created the parkway to get to his family’s estate in Long Island, but it was also a playground for him and his fellow car enthusiasts, hosting a number of road races. Today, the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway is a popular space for human-powered recreation with motorized traffic having ceased in 1938. Trees border much of the trail, providing leafy cover from summer sunshine. The trail corridor is wide and welcoming. Unpaved paths veer into some of the wooded areas along the route. The trail is anchored by two parks: to the east and Cunningham Park To the west, Alley Pond Park. It’s an engaging course, traveling through woods, along backyards and playgrounds, and over and under major roadways. The Motor Parkway is part of the greater Boston-Queens Greenway network.</p>
<p>Parking is available at Alley Pond Park (79-25 Winchester Blvd, Queens Village). From here trail can be accessed at either the Winchester Boulevard trail marker, or by following path behind the tennis courts <br />Parking is also available at Cunningham Park (196-10 Union Turnpike, Flushing). Trail access point is across Union Turnpike on 199th Street (Street parking may be available here). <br /> <br />Additional parking lot may be foound at tHills Terrace between 73rd Ave and Union Turnpike</p>
This trail continues 8 miles from Alley Pond Park all the way to Flushing Meadows Park, home of the 2024 World Series champion NY Mets! You only have to cross 3 streets for the entire ride. You continue past Cunningham park to peck fields then to Kissena Park, Kissena Corridor Park, then alongside the Queens botanical garden. It’s pretty flat, nicely paved, and you can safely ride it at night. Leave your
It's not too long, but watch out for sharp turns and steep climb onto the cross over bridge.
Also there were junkies in the Allie pond park parking lot asking people for money.
The history of the Long Island Motor Parkway (as it was first recalled) is revealed with signage along the length of the Parkway, including the site of the Jacob Johnson Family Burial Ground who appears in the 1830 Census as a "free colored man." At least two of his sons served in a segregated unit in the Civil War. He was a farmer in the area until retirement when he lived very close to Alley Pond.
The length of the entire park roadway, designated as part of the Greenway, has been repaved.
Review other park features when you come. In another area of the larger Alley Pond Park is found the oldest and tallest tree in NYC, already growing at the time of George Washington, known as the Alley Pond Giant. Hiking trails throughout the Park are well maintained.
I rode it with my bike it was good ride.I will be doing it again. It was clean and well maintained. A lot of walkers.
I never have been in this place before Is so nice, clean and secure. I would walk again definitely.
The entire trail is now reopened, with resurfacing from Springfield Blvd. to Winchester.
They are in the process of re surfacing the trail and the sign says completion Fall 2021.
DO NOT TRY THIS TRAIL ON THE ALLEY POND SIDE. CLOSED
A hidden gem in Queens. The actual Vanderbilt section might only be 3 miles but you can bike from Alley Pond Park near the tennis bubble all the way to Citifield in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. That’s more than 8 miles of biking only crossing 4 or 5 streets. All of it is through or alongside parks where cars cannot run you over. Great, underutilized trail!!!
This trail is great for biking but there are a lot of people who use it for walking.
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