Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Queens’ green heart in New York
Flushing Meadows Corona Park sits in eastern Queens. It's less famous than Central Park, but equally worth your visit. Discover this hidden gem in Queens!
What to Know About Flushing Meadows Corona Park
- Located in Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is often called the “green heart” of the borough. The park spans about 5 km² (1,930 acres) in the middle of Queens.
- The park was developed in the 1930s for the 1939–1940 New York World’s Fair. It also hosted the 1964 World’s Fair. Before that, the site was marshland and an industrial dumping ground. New Yorkers called it Corona Ash Dumps.
- This park is far less famous than Central Park or Bryant Park. But it’s worth a visit.
What to See in Flushing Meadows Corona Park
- Most pavilions from the 1964–1965 World’s Fair are gone, but the stunning 42 m (138 ft) stainless steel Unisphere remains. This metal sphere represents Earth with its continents.
- The park is also home to the New York Hall of Science, an interactive museum where you can explore natural phenomena. Outside, you’ll see an impressive lineup of rockets used by NASA.
- Don’t miss Meadow Lake. It’s the largest lake in any New York City park—bigger than Central Park’s Reservoir. A peaceful spot for a picnic and a different side of New York.
- On the north side of the park stands Citi Field, home of the New York Mets baseball team. If you’re catching a Mets game, arrive a couple of hours early to explore Flushing Meadows Corona Park. You’ll get two experiences in one visit.
- Also visit the Queens Museum to see its famous scale model of New York City.
- The park comes alive during the US Open tennis tournament. It’s home to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the US Open courts.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Video
