New York State Parkway System Trivia Quiz

Answer: Robert Moses

Robert Moses was considered by some to be the second-most powerful man (after the governor) in NY state during his tenure. His building of so many highways is credited (and blamed) for much the urban flight and subsequent suburban housing sprawl that occurred around NYC.

Robert Moses State Park and Robert Moses Causeway (on Long Island) and Robert Moses State Parkway (Niagara Falls, NY) are named in his honor.

Answer: Grand Central Parkway

The Grand Central and the Northern State are essentially the same road - driving on them you would hardly notice when one changes to the other. The dividing line is the border between Queens and Nassau counties.

Answer: Yankee Stadium

Sometimes referred to as the "GCP", the Grand Central Parkway runs through the borough of Queens, past all the attractions listed other than Yankee Stadium, home of the "Bronx Bombers".

Shea Stadium was in Flushing until 2009 being replaced by Citi Field - together they've been home to Major League Baseball's NY Mets for almost the team's entire existence. Aircraft taking off on LaGuardia Airport's runway 22 fly right over the GCP - they can really rattle your teeth! Some of the structures on the old World's Fair grounds are still standing and quite visible from the GCP. Most notable among them is the stainless steel model of the earth, the Unisphere, featured prominently in the film "Men in Black".

Answer: They take you to and from parks

The parkway system was originally expected to take people from the crowded confines of New York City to the various state parks around the metropolitan area. Over the years they have, for better or worse, become an integral part of the highway system, carrying commuter and recreational traffic alike.

Answer: Commercial traffic is banned on most parkways

Although generally designed with limited access, no same-level crossings and no traffic lights, New York's parkways are NOT part of the Interstate system. They have no state, federal or interstate numbers - one refers to them by name.

And, for the most part, there are no trucks. In fact, many bridges crossing over the parkways were deliberately built with low clearance, precluding trucks from ever being able to use these roads. There are some sections that allow trucks - in places where a parkway is the ONLY route.

Answer: Taconic Parkway

As with most NY parkways, the Taconic was originally designed to help take New York City dwellers to a park - in this case, north to Bear Mountain. It's much longer than needed for that purpose, taking travelers approximately 105 miles, from the Bronx River Parkway in the south to Interstate 90 in Chatham, NY.

Answer: Sunken Meadow Parkway

Sunken Meadow State Park was built upon some low lying marsh land during the mid-1900s along Long Island's north shore in the town of Smithtown. The park has three miles of beaches, three-quarters of a mile of boardwalk, plus baseball fields and a 27-hole golf course. The six-mile long Sunken Meadow Parkway connects the park at the north end to Sagtikos Parkway at the south.

Answer: It allow trucks along its entire length

Ocean Parkway allows trucks along its entire length which is unique to the roads of the NY parkway system. Some parkways do allow trucks, but only over limited lengths, such as the last section upon entering a park (parkways are often the only access to some parks).

Answer: Hutchinson River Parkway

The Hutchinson River Parkway is named after English-born American religious leader Anne Hutchinson. She was born in England in 1591, emigrated to Massachusetts in 1634 and was an outspoken church dissident. She and most of her family were murdered by native Americans in 1643.

Answer: Meadowbrook State Parkway

Like the Wantagh, the Meadowbrook runs north-south from the Northern State Parkway to Ocean Parkway near Jones Beach. Like other parkways, it is limited to non-commercial traffic, except, again like other parkways, south of Merrick Road (New York State Route 27A) where trucks are allowed.