Build it, and they will come. While the expression was coined in a movie about a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield, it can now describe the resurrection of a racetrack.
After many false starts and scandals involving a host of politicians, Resorts World New York casino opened its doors at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park in October 2011. There may have been an economic downturn and high unemployment, but none of that shows at the “racino,” where an average of 20,000 make their way through the casino daily.
From November 2011 through January 2012, the casino generated nearly $140 million in gambling revenues. Due to its immediate success, Genting Americas-which operates Resorts World-wants to expand past the 5,000 slot machines now in operation, but the New York State Lottery-which authorizes the operation of the electronic video lottery terminals-has yet to give the go-ahead.
However, even bigger plans are being tossed about in Albany of permitting table games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat at Resorts World New York and all other racinos across the Empire State. This would require a complicated change in the state constitution that could take several years to complete.
There’s also plans for Genting Americas and the state to collaborate on the development of the nation’s largest convention center at the Resorts World/Aqueduct site. This is expected to generate extra revenue from trade show delegates, which in turn calls for the creation of new hotels and entertainment venues. All of this spells thousands of jobs for a city sorely in need of them.
The problem, however, is getting people to the Aqueduct Racetrack site. The Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan is within reach of major rail and bus lines, but Ozone Park is a bit removed, thought it has the advantage of being close to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The AirTrain extends from JFK only to Jamaica and Howard Beach. Moreover, the A train ride from south Queens to Manhattan- even as an express at times-seems to be endless.
However, hiding in the bushes is the defunct Rockaway Beach branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) that many years ago brought riders from Penn Station to the Rockaways for a day of sun and surf. It operated that way until it was taken out of service in 1962.
The line runs right past Resorts World/Aqueduct, as the A train supplanted LIRR service on the section of the Rockaway Beach branch south of Liberty Avenue. Assemblymen Mike Miller and Phil Goldfeder, who represent a large part of the area affected, have already pitched their ideas about revitalizing the defunct line.
Some Queens residents, wary of reviving the old rail line, would rather see the defunct sections of the branch turned into “QueensWay,” a High Line-type bike path and nature trail.
However, the development at Aqueduct Racetrack is the kind of economic boost Queens and the city desperately need-and the revitalization of the Rockaway Beach branch of the LIRR must go along with it. Undoubtedly, the project will cost money, but it will be money well spent, as the line would provide casino visitors, south Queens residents and flyers with a swift way to get to and from Manhattan.
In short, it’s a win-win situation all around-and it’s too good to pass up.
