:Parkside station

Prior to the construction of the station, Rockaway Beach Branch service north of Ozone Park traveled via the Atlantic Branch to Flatbush Terminal, or via the Montauk Branch to Long Island City. Between 1908 and 1911, the branch was extended north past the Montauk Branch to the Main Line; this new grade-separated section was known as the Glendale Cut-off, and allowed service from the branch to operate to Penn Station in Manhattan.{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1910/04/10/102037256.pdf|title=Millions Spent on Long Island R.R. – First Full Details of Improvements and What They Have Cost the Pennsylvania – Tunnel Trains in June – Company Expects to Carry 500,000 Commuters Daily – $30,000,000 Already Spent – $10,000,000 to Come|date=April 10, 1910|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 18, 2015|issn=0362-4331}}

On March 24, 1927, the New York State Transit Commission ordered the LIRR to construct a new station at Metropolitan Avenue along the cut-off to alleviate congestion at the Forest Hills station on the Main Line, and to replace the nearby Glendale and Atlas Yard stations (the current site of The Shops at Atlas Park at Cooper Avenue) on the Montauk Branch.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/52885999/?terms=|title=Old Timers: This Veteran Railroader Describes Rockaway Run|last1=Roden|first1=J.|date=July 4, 1948|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|access-date=August 18, 2015|page=18}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/03/25/archives/new-long-island-station-will-be-built-near-forest-hills-on-the.html|title=New Long Island Station – Will Be Built Near Forest Hills on the Rockaway Division|date=March 25, 1927|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 10, 2015|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252015%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%25201927%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Star%25201927%2520-%25200311.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F352afda496f9078a49c3ff9c68bc704e#page=1|title=New L.I. Railroad Station Ordered In Glendale Area: New Depot May Relieve Crowded Conditions at Forest Hills|date=March 24, 1927|work=Long Island Daily Star|access-date=August 18, 2016|page=13}} The station was opened on September 15, 1927. It was originally named "Glendale" as a substitute for the former station on the Montauk Branch. It was renamed "Parkside" on October 23, 1927, due to its proximity to Forest Park, after protests over the station name from the local community.{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201927%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201927%2520-%25203721.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F1f5bff2912f0d022ac44dd3d36dea0e0#page=1|title=Forest Hills Park Grows During Year|date=October 27, 1927|work=Long Island Daily Press|access-date=August 18, 2016|page=2}}{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201927%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201927%2520-%25203882.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fc194e181b939cec2b42210b73797d1e0#page=1|title=Forest Hills Happy Over Depot Name: Plans Celebration to Mark Victory Over L.I.R.R. in Station Title Dispute|date=October 26, 1927|work=Long Island Daily Press|access-date=August 18, 2016|page=2}} The Parkside name is shared with a nearby post office at Metropolitan Avenue and Continental (71st) Avenue.{{cite news|last1=Bresiger|first1=Gregory|title=The Trains Stopped Running Here 50 Years Ago|url=http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-07-18/Features/The_Trains_Stopped_Running_Here_50_Years_Ago.html|website=qgazette.com|publisher=Queens Gazette|access-date=July 3, 2015|date=July 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704120135/http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-07-18/Features/The_Trains_Stopped_Running_Here_50_Years_Ago.html|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}The Long Island Rail Road: A Comprehensive History Volume #5; New York, Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad; New York & Rockaway Beach Railway; New York & Long Beach Railroad; New York & Rockaway Railroad; Brooklyn Rapid Transit Operation to Rockaway Over L.I.R.R., by Vincent F. Seyfried{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/10/28/archives/remedy-for-overcrowding.html|title=Remedy for Overcrowding (Letter)|last1=Amezaga|first1=L.|date=October 28, 1927|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2015|page=22|issn=0362-4331}}

The opening of the Parkside station helped spawn development in the area, which previously consisted of empty lots and farmland. Over 100 homes were constructed to form the Forest Hills Crest community.{{cite news|url=http://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/parkside-station-forest-hills/article_426632f5-f6d5-50db-9580-5a7449172cdd.html|title=Parkside Station, Forest Hills|last1=Marzlock|first1=Ron|date=May 1, 2008|access-date=July 3, 2015|publisher=Queens Chronicle|website=qchron.com}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/04/19/archives/queens-builders-pay-200000-for-farm-worth-3500-in-1865.html|title=Queens Builders Pay $200,000 For Farm Worth $3,500 in 1865|date=April 19, 1931|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2015|page=4RE|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/06/28/archives/new-queens-home-community.html|title=New Queens Home Community|date=June 28, 1931|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2015|page=1RE|issn=0362-4331}} The block immediately to the south of the station, bounded by Metropolitan Avenue, Woodhaven Boulevard, and Union Turnpike, became an industrial superblock.{{cite web|title=ENB – Region 2 Notices: Notice Of Acceptance Of Draft EIS|url=http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb2005/20050525/not2.html|website=ny.gov|publisher=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation|access-date=July 3, 2015|location=Queens, New York City|date=May 25, 2005}} In the early expansion plans of the city's Independent Subway System (IND) in the 1930s, Parkside was one of the stations that would have been absorbed into the new subway, connecting to the IND Queens Boulevard Line at its 63rd Drive station in Rego Park, north of the junction with the LIRR Main Line.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/03/19/archives/city-board-votes-new-subway-links-tentatively-lists-16000000-outlay.html|title=City Board Votes New Subway Links – Tentatively Lists $16,000,000 Outlay for Rockaway and North Bronx Extensions – Albany Approval Needed – Brunner Will Go to Capital to Seek Authority for Purchase From Long Island Railroad|date=March 19, 1937|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2015|page=25|issn=0362-4331}}

In 1950, the Rockaway Beach Branch south of Ozone Park closed after the trestle across Jamaica Bay between The Raunt and Broad Channel stations was destroyed by a fire. The city purchased the entire line in 1955, but only the portion south of Liberty Avenue was reactivated for subway service as the IND Rockaway Line.{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/06/28/84703811.pdf|title=Rockaway Trains to Operate Today|last1=Freeman|first1=Ira Henry|date=June 28, 1956|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2015|issn=0362-4331}} Ridership declined on the remaining portion of the branch and service was reduced.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/11/14/archives/lirr-will-drop-2-queens-trains-one-morning-one-evening-run-on-ozone.html|title=L.I.R.R. Will Drop 2 Queens Trains; One Morning, One Evening Run on Ozone Park Spur Will Be Halted Nov. 24|date=November 14, 1958|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 19, 2015|issn=0362-4331}} Due to vandalism, the railroad removed the station's southbound track and put both platforms out of service in 1958. The platforms were replaced with a low-level concrete platform in the former trackbed.{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201961%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201961%2520b%2520-%25202378.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fa3e87edba48395df76cc1cf6cf3da1e3#page=1|title='Forgotten Spur' a Painful Reminder|last1=Noyes|first1=Thomas|date=December 27, 1961|work=Long Island Star-Journal|access-date=August 18, 2016|page=17}}{{cite web|last1=Roberts|first1=John A.|title=Forgotten Spur to the Rockaways|url=http://www.junipercivic.com/aboutUs.asp#.VZaFGflVjyA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130084002/http://www.junipercivic.com/aboutus.asp#.VZaFGflVjyA|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2006|website=junipercivic.com|publisher=Juniper Park Civic Association|access-date=July 3, 2015|date=March 2002}} The Rockaway Beach Branch ceased operations on June 8, 1962, and all stations along the line, including Parkside, were closed.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/nyregion/clashing-visions-for-old-rail-bed-just-dont-call-it-the-high-line-of-queens.html?_r=0|title=Clashing Visions for Old Rail Bed (Just Don’t Call It the High Line of Queens)|last1=Dunlap|first1=David W.|date=July 31, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 3, 2015|page=A20|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201962%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201962%2520-%25205602.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F63004186747aaa0bd8b49a91573896b8#page=1|title=An Era Ends at 6:09: Last Train Rides Forgotten Spur|date=June 8, 1962|work=Long Island Star-Journal|access-date=August 18, 2016|page=11}}

The station had two tracks and two wooden high-level side platforms, with four small wooden shelters on both platforms. Exit stairs were located on Metropolitan Avenue.{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Dave|title=Rockaway Beach Branch|url=http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/far%20rockaway%20branch/farrockawaybranch.htm|website=trainsarefun.com|publisher=trainsarefun.com|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704124817/http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/far%20rockaway%20branch/farrockawaybranch.htm|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/02/20/83652840.pdf|title=L.I.R.R. Asks Cuts in Queens Branch: Seeks Reduction of Service on Rockaway Beach Spur-Request Is Opposed|date=February 20, 1958|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 18, 2015|issn=0362-4331}} No trace of the station exists today.

North of the station, the line veered west to merge with the LIRR Main Line at Whitepot Junction. Just south of the station, near the Union Turnpike overpass, was a junction with the Montauk Branch, which was known as Glendale Junction. A wye from the westbound Montauk Branch track merged with the Rockaway Beach Branch going north, and another from the eastbound Montauk Branch track going south. The Rockaway Beach Branch passed over the Montauk Branch on a wooden trestle.{{cite book|title=Queens Subway Options Study, New York: Environmental Impact Statement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NaI4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA83|access-date=July 10, 2016|date=May 1984|publisher=United States Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Urban Mass Transit Administration|pages=83–}}{{Cite web|url=http://bmt-lines.com/wp-content/uploads/misc/1948%20triboro%20map.jpg|title=1946 Triboro Coach Map|date=1946|website=BMT Lines|publisher=Triboro Coach|access-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306130025/http://bmt-lines.com/wp-content/uploads/misc/1948%20triboro%20map.jpg|archive-date=March 6, 2016}}

The Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps is located in the vicinity of the former station.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fhvac.org/|title=Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps|website=fhvac.org|language=en-US|access-date=September 24, 2019}} The former industrial block west of the line is currently a shopping center. The land east of the line south of Metropolitan Avenue where the Parkside-Montauk spur used to be is currently the site of the Metropolitan Avenue Public School Campus built from 2006 to 2010; the northern entrance to the campus is on Metropolitan Avenue, and the school building sits on the former right-of-way of the northern Montauk connection. The bridge above the Montauk Branch has been demolished.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesnewsweekly.com/news/2010-12-16/Front_Page/A_Third_Mall_In_Rego_Park.html|title=A Third Mall In Rego Park?|last1=Goldman|first1=Sam|date=December 16, 2010|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704193202/http://www.timesnewsweekly.com/news/2010-12-16/Front_Page/A_Third_Mall_In_Rego_Park.html|archive-date=July 4, 2015|publisher=Times Newsweekly|website=timesnewsweekly.com|url-status=dead}} The right-of-way south of the demolished bridge, the southern wye and the Montauk branch define the border of a nearby Little League Baseball field complex. Shortly after the opening of the Metropolitan campus in 2010, the nearby trestle and overpass above Metropolitan Avenue were deemed to be structurally unsound. However, no action was taken, and in 2014, a study of the condition of the line found that 20% of the underside of the bridge had exposed reinforcement bars.{{Cite web|url=https://thequeensway.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Queensway-Existing-Structural-Condition-Report.pdf|title=QueensWay Existing Structural Conditions Report January 29, 2014|date=January 29, 2014|website=thequeensway.org|publisher=Weidlinger Associates, Inc.|page=20|access-date=September 24, 2019}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&layer=xc&g=woodhaven,+ny&ll=40.711848,-73.856669&spn=0,359.997264&z=19&cbll=40.711435,-73.857071&panoid=xDk0GNMDbXRMl3Ifi1r_wg&cbp=12,299.75,,0,-4.88 Site of former Parkside Station]
• [http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/LIRR%20STATION%20HISTORY.pdf LIRR History (TrainsAreFun.com)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkside (Lirr Station)}}

Category:Former Long Island Rail Road stations in New York City

Category:Railway stations in Queens, New York

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1927

Category:1927 establishments in New York City

Category:1962 disestablishments in New York (state)

Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1962

Category:Rego Park, Queens