Metropolitan Park (Queens)

Metropolitan Park
Interactive map of Metropolitan Park
LocationFlushing Meadows–Corona Park
Flushing, Queens, New York, United States
Coordinates40°45′20″N 73°50′53″W / 40.75556°N 73.84806°W / 40.75556; -73.84806
GroundbreakingJanuary 2026 (planned)
OpeningJune 2030 (planned)
UseMixed-use development
Websitewww.metropolitanpark.com
Companies
OwnerQueens Future, LLC
Technical details
Leasable area50 acres (0.20 km2)
ProposedNovember 7, 2023
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park
Opening dateTBD
No. of rooms2,300
Casino typeResort
Operating license holderHard Rock International
WebsiteMetropolitan Park
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park

Metropolitan Park is a planned park and entertainment complex in the New York City borough of Queens. The site is located at the northern end of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the parking lots adjacent to Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). The project is being undertaken by Queens Future, LLC, a joint venture between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Entertainment.[1]

History

Initial plans

Attractions and geographical features of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park
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Attractions and geographical features of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park:
1
Citi Field
2
Etihad Park (under construction)
3
Flushing Meadows Carousel and Queens Zoo
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Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center
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Flushing River and Creek
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Meadow Lake and Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
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Metropolitan Park (planned) and Shea Stadium (demolished)
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Mets–Willets Point subway station
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Mets–Willets Point LIRR station
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National Tennis Center and United States Pavilion (demolished)
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New York Hall of Science
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New York State Pavilion and Queens Theatre
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Queens Botanical Garden
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Queens Museum
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Queens Night Market
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Terrace on the Park
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Unisphere
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Willow Lake
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World's Fair subway station (demolished)

In October 2013, the New York City Council approved a plan to build a mall and entertainment center called Willets West in the Citi Field parking lot where Shea Stadium stood, as part of an effort by the city to redevelop the nearby neighborhood of Willets Point.[2][3] However, in 2015, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that the site, considered parkland, could not be used for commercial development without permission from the New York state government.[4]

New York state officials announced in April 2022 that they would issue three casino licenses in Downstate New York.[5][6] Following this announcement, in 2022, Mets owner Steve Cohen began pushing to build a casino in the parking lot, which was supported by New York City mayor Eric Adams, but still needs final approval from the New York state government.[7] In November 2023, Cohen unveiled a proposal to build an $8 billion, 50-acre casino and entertainment complex in the parking lot, called Metropolitan Park, which would include a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.[8][9][10] The hotel could become the largest hotel in New York City and amongst the largest hotels in the world if built. The complex would also include cultural amenities, convention space, a music venue, restaurants, shopping, an indoor pool and a new park.[11][12]

Opposition and approval of casino license

New York state senator Jessica Ramos, who represents New York's 13th State Senate district where the site is located, announced her intention to formally oppose the construction of the casino and entertainment complex in May 2024.[13][14] In February 2025, the City Planning Commission voted in favor of approving zoning changes which would allow for the project to be built. The area is zoned as parkland and zoning changes are needed to allow the project to move forward. Neighboring community boards have also voted in favor of the proposed development.[15][16] In March 2025, the City Council voted 41–2 to approve the zoning changes.[17]

State Senator John Liu, who represents a neighboring district,[18] announced in late March that he would introduce a bill to reclassify the zoning of the parking lot next to Citi Field as commercial space, which if passed would allow the integrated resort to be built.[19][20][21] In late April 2025, a State Senate committee voted 4-3 to advance a bill allowing the Willets Point section of the park to be rezoned to permit commercial use.[22][23] In May 2025, the bill passed in the state assembly 138–7 [24][25] and then passed in the state senate 54–5.[26][27] The senate bill reclassified the site as commercial property, clearing the way for casino construction to begin.[18] Liu was criticized for his support of the plan, with concern or parkland alienation and that the casino will target the local older Asian community members in surrounding neighborhoods that are most vulnerable.[28][29]

The construction of the Hard Rock complex and its neighboring public park, food hall, and other improvements hinged on the project winning one of the three downstate casino licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission.[30] On September 30, 2025, a community advisory committee unanimously approved the proposal, sending it back to the Gaming Commission for final licensure.[31] On December 1, 2025, the state's Gaming Facility Location Board recommended that a casino license be awarded for the Metropolitan Park proposal, an action which needed to be ratified by the Gaming Commission by the end of the year before formal approval could be issued.[32] The final approval for the site was given by the Gaming Commission on December 15, 2025.[33][34] At the time, the casino was scheduled to open in 2030.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Metropolitan Park - Committee Meeting Presentation" (PDF). NYC.gov. April 28, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ^ "Neighbors Protest Plan For Mall In Citi Field Parking Lot". CBS New York. July 10, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  3. ^ "City Council Approves Sweeping Redevelopment Plan For Willets Point". CBS New York. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  4. ^ Dunlap, David W. (July 8, 2015). "De Blasio's Dilemma: Fight for a Mall Near Citi Field or Disavow It". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  5. ^ Hong, Nicole; Rubinstein, Dana (October 21, 2022). "Where Could a Casino Be Built in New York City? What We Know". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Short, Aaron (August 9, 2022). "Manhattan Casino Push Could Turn Out to Be a House of Cards". Commercial Observer. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Honan, Katie (April 5, 2022). "Adams Open to Mets Owner Steve Cohen's Pitch for Citi Field Casino and Willets Point Makeover". The City. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Flanigan, John (November 7, 2023). "Mets owner Steve Cohen unveils $8 billion proposal to build up area around Citi Field". SNY. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Byfield, Erica; Luck, Brad (November 7, 2023). "New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen Announces $8B Plan to Develop Area Around Citi Field in Queens". NBC New York. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Gannon, Devin (November 7, 2023). "Mets Owner Reveals 'Metropolitan Park' Proposal for $8B Casino Complex Next to Citi Field". 6sqft. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Parry, Bill (February 12, 2024). "Mets Owner Steve Cohen's Metropolitan Park Plan Commits over $1B in Community Benefits If Casino Gets Green Light from State". Flushing Post. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Parry, Bill (January 25, 2024). "Hard Rock International CEO Pitches Metropolitan Park Opportunity with Queens Business Community". QNS. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Venugopal, Arun (May 28, 2024). "Key Queens lawmaker says she will formally oppose Citi Field-area casino". Gothamist. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Schactman, Noah (May 28, 2024). "New Jackpot City". New York. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  15. ^ O'Connor, Devin (May 28, 2025). "Steve Cohen's Hard Rock NYC Casino Secures State Blessing". Casino.org. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  16. ^ Shriber, Todd (February 20, 2025). "Queens Casino Plan Lands Important Zoning Changes". Casino.org. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  17. ^ Venugopal, Arun (March 14, 2025). "Metropolitan Park casino project in Queens wins City Council zoning approval". Gothamist. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Jefferson, Austin C. (May 27, 2025). "Parkland alienation bill passes Senate, potentially paving way for Cohen's casino". City & State. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  19. ^ Drellich, Evan (May 28, 2024). "Steve Cohen's Citi Field Casino Bid Suffers Major Blow, Project's Future Uncertain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  20. ^ Valle, Verónica Del (March 30, 2025). "NY senator backs Citi Field casino plan with Flushing Skypark proposal and $100M pledge". Gothamist. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  21. ^ Shriber, Todd (March 30, 2025). "Queens Casino Plan Lifted by Liu Parkland Bill". Casino.org. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  22. ^ Durso, Isabelle (April 29, 2025). "Steve Cohen Wins Key Vote Needed to Build Casino Next to Citi Field". Commercial Observer. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  23. ^ Shriber, Todd (April 29, 2025). "Queens Casino Plan Gets Another Boost Following Committee Vote". Casino.org. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  24. ^ Shriber, Todd (May 14, 2025). "Queens Casino Plan Boosted by New York Assembly Vote". Casino.org. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  25. ^ O’Brien, Shane (May 15, 2025). "Assembly passes Metropolitan Park parkland alienation bill". QNS. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  26. ^ O’Brien, Shane (May 27, 2025). "Metropolitan Park receives green light from State Senate, clears way for downstate license bid". QNS. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  27. ^ Campbell, Jon (May 27, 2025). "Citi Field casino plan clears major hurdle in Albany". Gothamist. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  28. ^ O'Brien, Shane (April 2, 2025). "Community groups criticize Sen. Liu for backing Metropolitan Park casino bill". QNS. Schneps Media. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  29. ^ Khafagy, Amir (June 5, 2023). "No Safe Bet: Immigrant Residents in Queens Say a Casino Will Harm Their Communities". Documented. Documented. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  30. ^ O'Brien, Shane (March 12, 2025). "City Council votes overwhelmingly in favor of $8B Metropolitan Park casino zoning changes". QNS.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  31. ^ Gonella, Catalina (September 30, 2025). "Metropolitan Park casino gambling bet for Willets Point, Queens wins panel's OK". Gothamist. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  32. ^ Winzelberg, David (December 1, 2025). "Queens and Bronx sites approved for casino licenses". Long Island Business News. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  33. ^ Pozarycki, Robert (December 15, 2025). "JACKPOT! All three NYC-area casino bids for Queens and Bronx approved by NYS Gaming Commission". amNewYork. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  34. ^ a b "New York City's first casino is expected to open this spring; 2 more on deck". NBC New York. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
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