New York kicks off planning for 100-acre Aqueduct Racetrack redevelopment
Aerial view of Aqueduct Racetrack courtesy of Empire State Development
New York is moving forward with the redevelopment of the sprawling Aqueduct Racetrack site in South Ozone Park. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the start of the community engagement and planning process for 100 acres of the state-owned Queens racetrack, which will close this summer before moving horse racing operations to Belmont Park on Long Island. The state announced two workshops will take place this month to gather input from the public on priorities for the development, including housing, open space, and retail.
Aqueduct, which opened in 1894, will host its final races on June 28, 2026. Plans to close the facility and shift operations to the new Belmont Park racetrack have been in the works for several years. The multi-year redevelopment of Belmont Park will wrap up this fall, and live racing is expected to return this September.
Empire State Development (ESD) will lead the redevelopment of the site, which is owned by the New York State Franchise Oversight Board.
“The Aqueduct Racetrack site represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine 100 acres of state-owned land in Queens,” Hope Knight, CEO and commissioner of ESD, said.
“ESD is committed to working with the community through a robust and inclusive engagement process to develop a vision for this site that reflects their input and guides future development.”
Public workshops will allow residents to provide input on site opportunities and guide the Aqueduct Master Plan, which will be completed early next year. The first workshop takes place on Tuesday, May 12, at John Adams High School from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The second workshop will be held virtually on Wednesday, May 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Additional workshops will be held in the coming year.
After the master plan is created, the project will enter the public approvals process, including environmental review, before a request for proposals (RFP) is issued. The plan will be guided by Hochul’s Executive Order 30, which directs state agencies to find underutilized state-owned sites for affordable housing.
“As we work to address New York’s housing crisis and create more vibrant, inclusive communities, it is critical that we fully utilize state-owned land,” Hochul said.
“The Aqueduct site represents a significant opportunity, and through this community-driven process, we will ensure its future reflects the immediate priorities of Queens residents while expanding housing, economic opportunity, and public amenities for all New Yorkers for years to come.”
The start of planning for the site comes soon after Resorts World New York City opened a full-scale casino last month as part of a broader proposal to transform the historic racetrack into the largest integrated resort in the United States. The expansion includes $5.5 billion invested in the 72-acre site, including a 500,000-square-foot gaming floor, 2,000 hotel rooms, a new multi-purpose entertainment venue, and 12 acres of green space.
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