LaGuardia Community College celebrated the official co-naming of a Long Island City block on 29th Street as “LaGuardia Community College Way” on June 1, honoring the college’s role as an institution in the local community.
Representatives from LaGuardia joined Council Member Julie Won and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at 29th Street between Skillman Avenue and 47th Avenue for the co-naming ceremony on Monday.
The block is home to the LaGuardia Community College Greenway, a 17,000 square foot pedestrian plaza outside the college that boasts a block-long street mural as its centerpiece. The greenway, which began as a student-led initiative and launched as an Open Street in 2022, was made a permanent pedestrian plaza in 2025 by the DOT and LaGuardia.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.
Kenneth Adams, president of LaGuardia Community College, said the recent co-naming reflected years of advocacy to transform the block into a permanent pedestrian plaza.
“This transformation didn’t happen by accident,” Adams said in a statement. “It began as a student-led idea. Thanks to Council Member Julie Won and NYC DOT, this effort grew through the Open Streets program. Today, this street stands as a permanent gathering space for students, faculty, and our neighbors.”
LaGuardia President Kenneth Adams and Council Member Julie Won. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.
Won, meanwhile, said the plaza and the new co-naming reflect the role that LaGuardia plays in the local community.
“LaGuardia Community College Way reflects the opportunity and belonging this institution provides to every student, regardless of background,” Won said. “It sends a clear message: ‘Your future is ahead of you; you belong here and we believe in you.’”
Richards, on the other hand, described LaGuardia as a “crown jewel” in the city’s education system, adding that it is fitting that the block has been renamed in the college’s honor.
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.
“Education is the great equalizer, and LaGuardia has always opened its doors to everyone,” Richards said. “Going forward, it’s only fitting that 29th Street between Skillman and 47th Avenues be forever known as LaGuardia Community College Way. May we all continue to do things the LaGuardia way—the Queens way.”
Garrett Morgan, a LaGuardia student graduating with an associate’s degree in political science, said the co-naming also serves to honor Fiorello LaGuardia. Morgan noted that the former mayor championed accessible education and a “city that works for everyone,” adding that the pedestrian plaza ensures that his legacy lives on.
“Today, we’re honoring that legacy by turning this asphalt into a space for connection, creativity, and community,” Morgan said. “This is our shared achievement—and a reminder to keep building the future we deserve. LaGuardia Community College Way is a living space that belongs to all of us.”
Garrett Morgan. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud.