Construction crews have broken ground on a major renovation of the historic barn and garage building at Queens County Farm Museum, the working farm on the city's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. The project will bring an ADA-accessible entry ramp, upgraded building systems, and restored historic features to the 47-acre site in Glen Oaks, with completion expected in spring 2027.
The cost of the project is reported consistently as $10 million. The NYC Department of Design and Construction describes it as a $10 million project funded by NYC Parks, while QNS reports it as a $10 million upgrade and accessibility project. A groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start of the work, according to the same QNS report.
What's Changing Inside and Out
The scope of work centers on the farm's barn and garage building, which QNS reports will see electrical, plumbing, fire alarm and sprinkler systems upgraded, along with installation of a new boiler. Crews will also restore the barn's roof and skylight to replicate the structure's old look, the outlet notes. An ADA-accessible entry ramp will be installed as part of the same effort, per the QNS report.
As first detailed by The Construction Specifier, the renovation will also address roof and facade deterioration, water infiltration, and other structural issues, with crews working to stabilize the structure overall. The barn and administrative building were destroyed by fire and reconstructed in 1992. The project will also restore the building's faux garage doors and windows and strengthen insulation and energy efficiency through building envelope improvements, according to The Construction Specifier.
Keeping Programs Running During Construction
To keep the museum operating through construction, temporary trailers are being provided for use as classroom and office space, the same QNS account notes. The road and sidewalk surrounding the building are also being improved as part of the project, with plans calling for asphalt paving, sidewalk restoration, and painting, per The Construction Specifier. Landscaping upgrades will include a tree, shrubs, grass, ferns, and more than 140 perennials, that outlet reports.
The barn and garage occupy a single historic structure that's used for both administrative operations and public gatherings, according to The Construction Specifier. The building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Historic House Trust of New York City, QNS reports.
A Working Farm With Deep Roots
Queens County Farm Museum's site dates back to 1697, according to QNS, which also reports the museum draws more than 600,000 visitors annually. The grounds include historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles, planting fields, an orchard, and an herb garden, per The Construction Specifier, and the museum runs educational programs covering biodiversity, nutrition, climate change, and local history.
The property's history includes more than just the barn under renovation. According to the Historic House Trust of New York City, the farm's current farmhouse was built around 1772 by Jacob Adriance, and much of that original structure still stands today. The Historic House Trust also notes the museum is owned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and operated by the Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose, Inc.
NYC Parks funded the renovation, while the city's Department of Design and Construction is managing the work, which is expected to wrap up in spring 2027, according to The Construction Specifier. The project was announced by DDC Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, that outlet reports. The museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Queens.
