In a move that could alter the landscape of Flushing and its surroundings, a Queens state senator has thrown his support behind a contentious plan to develop a casino complex adjacent to Citi Field. State Sen. John Liu introduced legislation that would allow 50 acres of parking lots near the Mets' stadium, currently classified as parkland, to be used for commercial development, which would include the proposed Metropolitan Park casino project. Backed by an $8 billion plan from Mets owner Steve Cohen, in partnership with Hard Rock International, the project faces a challenging path forward.
Liu's ambitious undertaking to reclassify the land could facilitate the construction of the Metropolitan Park. Integrated within this project is the Flushing Skypark, a High Line-inspired pedestrian and bicycle bridge that would connect downtown Flushing with Willets Point. Aiming to provide a unified Queens, the Skypark's foundation rests on securing necessary funding and obtaining regulatory approvals, with Cohen and Hard Rock committing to a $100 million investment for the Skypark or, alternatively, for infrastructure improvements in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, as reported by Gothamist.
The proposal, while championed by Liu, still encounters resistance from certain quarters. Most notably, State Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district encompasses the ballpark, remains opposed to the casino's construction in her jurisdiction, voicing her dissent to numerous outlets, including the New York Post where she affirmed, "My position has not changed. I cannot support a casino in Corona and am a definitive no on any alienation bill that goes against my neighbors’ wishes." Despite the opposition, proponents of the Metropolitan Park project emphasize the economic benefits it would bring to the region, including thousands of union jobs and improvements to local infrastructure.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is among the local leaders supporting the casino and Skypark proposal, referring to it as a "grand slam for Northwest Queens" for its potential economic impact and job creation. Moreover, hard numbers have been attached to the Metropolitan Park vision with Cohen set to inject $8 billion into its development, should the casino secure one of three downstate licenses slated for issuance by the state Gaming Facility Location Board by year's end. Facing Cohen and Hard Rock in the race for a license are several other high-profile bidders, each jockeying for the opportunity to expand their gaming and entertainment footprint in one of the nation's most sought-after markets, as detailed by Gothamist.
With applications required to be submitted to local siting boards by the looming deadline of June 27, and the state Gaming Commission set to award up to three licenses by December, the coming months are crucial for the Metropolitan Park project.
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