New York State Legislature Approves Metropolitan Park Permitted Use Legislation
Bill Allows Steve Cohen and Hard Rock’s $8 Billion Sports and Entertainment Park to Move Forward
Queens, NY – Today, the New York State Senate voted 54-5 to pass State Senator John Liu’s legislation that expands the permitted uses of the 50 acres of parking lots surrounding Citi Field – leveling the playing field and allowing Metropolitan Park to move forward. This follows last week’s Assembly approval (134-11) of Assemblymember Larinda Hooks’ version of the bill. With both chambers’ bipartisan and overwhelming approval, Metropolitan Park moves one step closer to becoming a reality.
The bill’s passage reflects the community-driven momentum behind Metropolitan Park and the coalition of support it has earned from local residents, union leaders, small businesses, community organizations, Queens leaders, and elected officials including Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Francisco Moya, Assemblymember Hooks and Senator Liu.
Metropolitan Park is the only downstate casino project that has undergone a rigorous state and city review process, and the only project approved by a local Community Board, with all six Community Boards voting in favor of Metropolitan Park.
“This legislation allows the Metropolitan Park proposal to now be submitted for consideration by the State Gaming Commission for the awarding of a casino license,” said Senator John Liu (D-Flushing). “The proposal would create thousands of jobs for local residents and opportunities for local small businesses, and provide over a billion dollars in transit, park, and other infrastructure improvements.”
“For decades, these 50 acres have been a barrier to reaching our community’s potential,” said Assemblymember Larinda Hooks (D-East Elmhurst/Corona). “Today, we’re closer to transforming this land into a historic destination that revives Queens and benefits our city. This is our chance to build opportunity, create jobs, and pave the way for a prosperous future.”
“After years of community engagement, thousands of conversations, and the leadership of our local elected officials, we are one step closer to transforming these asphalt lots into something our neighbors can truly be proud of,” said New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. “This is just the start, and we are committed to working closely with the community and fans every step of the way.”
“Metropolitan Park will be a global destination and a local hub for entertainment, food, and culture that reflects the energy and diversity of the World’s Borough,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “This project was inspired by the community, shaped through their input, and designed with their future in mind, and we look forward to bringing it to life together.”
Since the 1939 World’s Fair, these 50 acres around Citi Field have always been parking lots despite technically being zoned as parkland. In 1961, the State Legislature first expanded the uses of this land when it passed legislation to alienate the area and allow for the construction of Shea Stadium.
Assemblymember Hooks and Senator Liu’s legislation expands on that alienation with new permitted land uses, providing an opportunity to create 20 acres of new green space, a world class sports and entertainment park, and 23,000 good-paying union jobs, and the Flushing Skypark in the process. The legislation will only allow the permitted use changes to go into effect if Metropolitan Park is awarded a downstate casino license.
Beginning over four years ago, Steve Cohen and his partners at Hard Rock have engaged the community from the ground up – 16 community workshops, hundreds of meetings with local leaders, and tens of thousands of conversations with neighbors. The result is Metropolitan Park, a vision for the area that delivers on the priorities of local residents, and has earned significant community support. Two scientific polls by Schoen Cooperman Research in May 2023 and March 2024 found overwhelming support among Queens residents (78% and 80% respectively) for Metropolitan Park and its core features: public green space and recreation areas, thousands of good-paying jobs, a Queens food hall with community space, improved public transit and a hotel with a live music venue, gaming and conference space.
About Metropolitan Park
Metropolitan Park, a sports and entertainment park, is a partnership between Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International. This $8 billion private investment will replace the 50 acres of parking lots around Citi Field with 20 acres of public open space plus 5 acres of athletic fields, and playgrounds, as well as bring entertainment to the site 365 days of the year. Metropolitan Park will consist of a Hard Rock Hotel with restaurants, bars, and conference space, as well as a casino and sportsbook; state-of-the art live music venue featuring locally and internationally known artists, comedians, and entertainers and A Taste of Queens Food Hall. The project is expected to create 23,000 union jobs and deliver a $1+ billion Community Benefits Agreement that includes: improved public transit and parking infrastructure, a transformed 7-line train station that would be made ADA accessible, investment in 450 affordable housing units, and an agreement to develop the transformative Flushing Skypark vision.
