Gantry Plaza State Park, Riverside state park in Long Island City, Queens, United States
Gantry Plaza State Park is a waterfront park covering roughly 5 hectares (12 acres) in Long Island City, Queens, directly on the East River facing Manhattan. Four piers reach into the water, and along the promenade stand old metal frames from the era when freight cars were loaded here.
New York State converted a Long Island Rail Road loading dock into a public park in 1998 and kept the steel structures that once moved freight cars. The site later expanded northward and southward along the riverbank.
The park takes its name from the rail cargo structures that now stand as metal frames along the waterfront, giving the space an industrial character. Families and joggers use the grounds throughout the day, while anglers cast lines from the pier and children climb on the play equipment.
The promenade works well for walking or cycling with views of the opposite shore and the bridges. Visitors in summer find shade under the trees and benches along the water.
Large lettering reading Long Island sits on the restored dock structures and can be seen from across the river, sometimes confusing first-time visitors about which borough they are in. The letters remain lit at night and serve as a landmark for boats passing through the waterway.
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