EMERGING VOICE
New York, USA
Reclaiming the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
EMERGING VOICE
New York, USA
Reclaiming the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Project Team
Alexandra Colon
Karalyne Dube
Donata Kraskauskaite
103 Views
This project examined the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway through a community engagement and sustainability lens, emphasizing the importance of incorporating resident-led visions into large-scale infrastructure planning.
Overview
This project examined the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) through a community engagement and sustainability lens, emphasizing the importance of incorporating resident-led visions into large-scale infrastructure planning. The work analyzed community-developed plans alongside official governmental proposals to assess how effectively local priorities—such as environmental health, public space, economic participation, and neighborhood safety—were reflected in decision-making. Grounded in principles of environmental justice, the project highlighted gaps in public outreach, equity, and long-term climate resilience. By aligning findings with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the project aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis as well as recommendations in regards to future infrastructural design choices and implementation in regards to the BQE.
Institution
Pratt Institute
Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment
Sustainable Communities course
Community Organization
El Puente — New York, United States
elpuente.org
Additional Team Members
Rafael De Balanzo Joue, Priya Mulgaonkar
Community Engagement
This project centers community voices, localized knowledge, and participatory planning to evaluate and envision a new future for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. We partnered with various community groups to amplify local perspectives on environmental health, public space, and economic inclusion.
Partners
Led by Pratt GCPE students in partnership with local community organizations within NYC
including El Puente, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, and the Brooklyn Heights Association.
