Short explanation
So this is Queens, New York City
In this borough, there is a park called Forest Park next to a neighborhood called Richmond Hill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Park_(Queens)
Last year, angry drivers signed a petition urging the city to allow them to drive through Forest Park.
Eric Adams, the Mayor, accepted their request:
That made some Richmond Hill residents angry.
So local families started demonstrating next to the park. They want the new mayor - Zohran Mamdani - to ban cars from Forest park.
Joann Ariola is a Republican member of New York City council
https://council.nyc.gov/district-32/
She personally wrote a letter to Mayor Eric Adams begging him to allow cars to go through Forest Park:
During the demonstration, she crossed the park in an SUV and showed up to mock demonstrators.
If you take a look at the map, Freedom Drive is not even that useful. At best it is a minor shortcut if you’re coming from Myrtle Ave and need to go south, but don’t want to take Woodhaven Blvd. i guess?
I’m actually a bit confused. That looks like the road doesn’t actually cross the park, but is adjacent to it?
This is the Edge of Forrest Park, it’s a park twice the size of Central Park. This road cuts through the path for kids to get to the soccer field from the playground
It looks different on satellite:
I’d bet a dollar it saves one traffic light and I’d bet a second dollar she lives within a quarter mile of the south end of the road. Opened for the relief of the most minor of conveniences.
I assume the politician who started it lives on one side of it and wants it for personal convenience.