Then & Now: A Return to the Long Island Motor Parkway in Garden City
Three years ago, eight members of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society documented the Garden City section of the road from Raymond Court to Clinton Road. Here is a Then (2017) & Now comparison with photos taken today.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Location
The Village of Garden City is constructing additional parking spaces south of the right-of-way. Village officials of Garden City trustees have expressed the intent to preserve this section of the Motor Parkway.
April 15, 2017
Behind the Stewart Field heading west to Clinton Road.
A section of the pavement was still there in 2017. It was likely removed sometime between April 2017 and the end of 2019.
The southern three-foot concrete extension remains untouched throughout most of this section.
Steve Lucas spots four concrete posts visible under the utility lines.
There was a clear walking pathway to Clinton Road.
Greg O. examining a post.
My favorite co-author Al Velocci retelling his favorite Motor Parkway tales.
Steve Lucas and Mike Cain.
On top of the Clinton Road Bridge eastern embankment.
From left to right: Al Velocci, Steve Lucas, Greg O. , Howard Kroplick, Brian McCarthy, Frank Femenias and Mike Cain. Photo was taken by Art Kleiner.
Posts on the embankment. In the early 2000s, wood could still be seen between the psots.
July 29, 2020
In July, the new construction uncovered the three-foot concrete extension.
The parking lot wall was begun.
August 15, 2020
Although the three-foot concrete extensions remain intact, any pavement in this section had been removed over the last three years.
The parking lot wall.
Only the section behind Stewart Filed has been cleared.
The only remaining concrete post in this section.
Just past the construction site are concrete pavement remains that are new since April 2017.
Since the construction site has blocked off foot traffic this year, the Motor Parkway area west of the construction site is overgrown with brush and poison ivy. It is not known whether the Village of Garden City plans to clear this area.
On top of the Clinton Road Bridge embankment looking west.
The view looking east toward Raymond Court. Again, the pathway is totally blocked.
Bottom Line: The southern three-foot concrete extension remains untouched. However, the Village plans to cover it over with gravel. If the Village goes ahead with this ill-conceived plan, the Motor Parkway in this section will be gone with just a historical marker to mark its burial.
The Motor Parkway pavement that existed in this section in 2017 has been removed. Likely this action occurred prior to 2020.
The favorite walking path to Clinton Road is totally blocked by brush and poison ivy.
As Joni Mitchell once sung: "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
Comments
Nice coverage of a sore spot in the parkway history ....progress!
Going by our smiles, Al may have been speaking of the link between LIMP treasures and the former outhouse.
If I recall correctly, LIPA had just come through clearing trees and brush a few days prior to our walk through the area so it was fairly clear.
I believe Greg is correct. We had a pretty clear path to the Clinton Road embankment that day. It’s always amazing to see how quickly the vegetation takes over again. We had a great time exploring the area. Sadly history sometimes loses to current community decisions. Hopefully we can revisit the area when this project is completed to see what remnants remain.
I had plan to visit this site but its pretty much off limit to all for now? Nice photo of the parkway boys, got to know Art, Al, and Steve, met Frank at the Rt.135 Bethpage exploration meet, now I know who’s the rest. IF AND WHEN THERE’S A MOTOR PARKWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEET AT THE BETHPAGE LIBRARY, SOME DAY?? A HELLO!
As kids, we used to ride our bikes down the western Clinton Road embankment unless it was covered in snow…Then we sledded down the eastern embankment (watching for traffic of course)...Some were known to have ‘launched’ snowballs from both sides…
Yes - had a good time that day. I might be mistaken but was that the day we explored the Mayan Ruins first? I do remember one of those places giving me a case of poison ivy! But worth it, I think.
Yes Art, you are correct. We went over there after looking at the Mayan Ruins.
Great pics on the Motor Parkway! A rare opportunity to have walked the cleared parkway that day. Remembered the spectacular elevated view of the manager’s house while descending from the Clinton Rd bridge.
Curious of Raymond Ct’s fate and its 18 homes. Will the narrow 25 ft roadway be used as access to both ball field parking and proposed townhouses to the east?
“Then and Now” - “then” - in case anyone missed it (and gives a hoot), per the 29 Jul post on this subject, “My Raymond Court pix (from 16 Feb 1999) - - - at <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy2.html#today> - - - “. Sam, III
Great pics Sam, thanks for the link! Your contributions over the years exposing the hidden and iconic Motor Parkway has always been great and informative. What happened to the upright posts in the 1999 photo over the years? Trees falling and/or deviant attitudes. My best guess is the latter. Guessing for concrete post holes perpendicular to the roadway was intended for increased spiral wire rigidity through a particular section on the Motor Parkway, maybe the GC entrance/exit ramp area)? This is all during early crude road safety in 1909. What are your thoughts
Thanks for the encomia, Frank. Perpendicular holes for twist wire? Not likely. Perp. holes held bolts that secured horizontal planks (guard rails). Start with <http://sbiii.com/limposts.html> and <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy6.html#qnsvgnts> (attached). There are pix of these with planks somewhere on my site but I can’t find where. Lots more posts on <http://sbiii.com/limpkwy3.html>, as well. Sam, III
Great group of pics,,,
On another thread, I took a ride up Lake Rd in Great Neck last week an saw that the WK Vanderbilt home had been torn down with a new house on the site. Was there mention of this that I missed?