Park
It On The Green
Queens Greenspots & Playgrounds
Queens' 400 parks, playgrounds and fields provide
our borough with more than 7,000 acres of green
space.
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park: At 1,255
acres, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is the second
largest park in the City and host to the USTA
U.S. Open and the New York Mets in Shea Stadium.
The park also houses the Queens Museum of Art,
Queens Zoo, Hall of Science and Queens Theatre.
It's impossible to miss the Unisphere, a stainless
steel globe that stands 140-feet-high. It was
presented in 1964 World's Fair by the United States.
Today, it is Queens' most recognizable symbol
and the centerpiece for the park.
These attractions draw locals and visitors to
the borough's liveliest park. It is also home
to the first playground in the United States built
for disabled and able-bodied children. The playground
is located near 111th Street and Corona Avenue.
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The
World's Fair Globe in Flushing Meadows-Corona
Park
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Forest
Park: Forest Park, the third largest in Queens,
services five neighborhoods: Richmond Hill, Forest
Hills, Woodhaven, Glendale and Kew Gardens. The
Park's beginnings can be traced to the planting
of 2,500 trees in 1914. With 538 acres to romp
through, Forest Park offers trails for horseback
riding and walking or jogging. The park also features
the City's only wheelchair softball field, which
was unveiled in March 2000. The Bandshell, originally
constructed in 1898, serves as a venue for musical
performers; including Sunday afternoon appearances
by the Queens Symphony Orchestra.
Kissena Park: This quaint refuge in Flushing
is packed with recreational opportunities. In
the early morning, it's a prime spot for bocce,
tennis or Tai Chi. Then, in the afternoon, golfers
head to the Kissena Park Course and cyclists tackle
the Velodrome on Booth Memorial Avenue and Parsons
Boulevard. Kissena Lake was refurbished several
years ago and now the looping path around it is
often filled with joggers, walkers and fishermen.
Jamaica Bay: This 9,000-acre bird sanctuary
is known for some of best bird-watching on the
eastern seaboard. A one-and-a-half mile trail
weaves through the salt marshes; the wildlife
refuge is part of the Gateway National Recreation
Area.
Juniper Valley Park: This park became part
of the park system after the City acquired it
to settle a tax dispute with Arnold Rothstein,
most famous for accusations that he rigged the
1919 World Series. The 55-acre plot of land earned
its name from the nearby Juniper Valley Swamp
and in the early 1940's the bog was transformed
into a recreational destination with new fields
and paths. Today, the Juniper Park Civic Association
maintains the park and lobbies for its needs.
Playgrounds:
Playground for all Children in Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Astoria Park Playground
Bay Terrace Playground (PS 169)
Bellaire Playground (PS 135)
Bulova Park (Moser Playground)
Dry Harbor Playground
Francis Lewis Playground
Glendale Playground
Linden Park (Park of the Americas)
London Planetree Playground
Marconi Park
Painters Playground (PS 174) (Mount Playground)
Queensbridge Park
Sandpiper Playground in Rockaway Beach
Schneiderman Playground (PS 232) (Linden Woods)
Smokey Oval
Sobelsohn Playground
Utopia Playground
Windmuller Park (Doughboy Plaza)
OUTDOOR TRACKS:
Astoria Park
Astoria South and 18th St.
Forest Park
Myrtle Ave. and Woodhaven Blvd.
half-a-mile bike track.
Kissena Park
Half-a-mile bike track
160th Street and Booth Memorial Boulevard
Windmuller Park
39th Drive and 52nd Street
Juniper Valley Park
Juniper Boulevard and 71st Street
Astoria Athletic Field
2nd Street, 26th Ave. and East River
Liberty Park
Colden and Juniper Streets.
173rd Street & 105th Avenue
DOG RUNS:
Windmuller Park (Doughboy Plaza): Woodside Avenue,
54th and 56th Streets
Veteran's Grove: Judge Street and Whitney Avenue
Underbridge Dog Run: 64 Ave./ 64 Road on Grand
Central Parkway
Cunningham Park : 193rd St. between Aberdeen Road
and Radnor Road
K-9 Dog Run (Forest Park): Park Lane South and
85th Street
Little Bay Dog Run: Cross Island Parkway between
Clearview Expressway and Utopia Parkway
Murray Playground: 21st Avenue & 45th Road (southeastern
side of the park)
BARBEQUE AREAS:
Alley Athletic Field: Union Turnpike & Winchester
Boulevard
Alley Pond Park: Winchester Boulevard & Grand
Central Parkway
Brookville Park: Brookville Boulevard & South
Conduit Avenue
Cunningham Park: 193rd Street & Union Turnpike
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park: Jewel Avenue & Van
Wyck Expressway (Meadow Lake)
Forest Park: Woodhaven Boulevard & Forest Park
Drive
Springfield Playground: 147th Avenue & Springfield
Boulevard (Behind Park House)
CRICKET FIELDS:
Baisley Pond Park: North Conduit Ave. & Baisley
Blvd
Baisley Park South: 150th St. & 134th Ave.
Kissena Corridor Park: Peck Ave. & Underhill Ave.
Cunningham Park: Tennis Horace Harding Expwy.
& Grand Central Pkwy.
St. Albans Park: Merrick Blvd., 173 Pl., Sayers
Ave.
COMPLETE LIST OF PARKS:
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Forest Park
Alley Pond Park
Cunningham Park
Astoria Park
Queensbridge Park
Herman A. MacNeil Park
Francis Lewis Park
Kissena Park
Highland Park
Crocheron Park
Edward Byrne Park
Baisley Pond Park
Springfield Park
Idlewild Park
Rockaway Community Park
Jacob Riis Park
Socrates Sculpture Park
-Sources: New York City Department of Parks, Queens
Borough President's Office, wirednewyork.com,
John Roleke, about.com.
