Bring Wood Back to Woodside

Fall 2018   
GSAPP Planning Core Course, Columbia University
Instructor: Malo Huston
Group Work


Woodside is a landlocked neighborhood located in western Queens. Its heart lies at the junction of the IRT-FLushing line (AKA the 7 train) and the Long Island Railroad. It is bounded on the southwest and northeast by massive cemeteries lying wholly or partially in its borders, such as St. Michael’s, Cavalry, and Mt. Zion. A major issue surroinding this neighborhood is an acute lack of public accesible, open green space. Due to its development history, Woodside’s urban landscape is dominated by single-family homes on private lots, and it was not until relatively recently did newfound densification spur a realization of the need for public open spaces for the swelling population to enjoy. In this report, the issue of inadequate public open space will be addressed through series of qualitative and quantitative studies, and solutions will be presented to not only increase the number of but also enhance the quality of existing iublic spaces in this neighborhood. The research centers on following question:

-What do Woodsiders want in their public open spaces?

-More importantly, how can they be improved, and what are their best uses?

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