Elmhurst Park

Grand Ave., 57 Ave. bet. 74 St. and 80 St.

Queens

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Elmhurst Park, once an eyesore and traffic landmark, reopened in 2011 as a magnificent community greenspace. The site of Elmhurst Park was once the location of two KeySpan Newtown gas holders, a highway landmark popularly known as the "Elmhurst gas tanks." With the support of the community, the site was sold by KeySpan to the City of New York for $1 and was cleaned up and returned to the public as open space.

The park features lush lawns, jogging paths, seating, sculpture, modern comfort stations, safety lighting, and more than 620 trees. The playground, designed for tots and young children, is energy-themed, in keeping with the site's history. At the playground, children can pedal a stationary bike to provide a light effect on a nearby column. In the northeast corner of the park, the Queens Vietnam Veterans Memorial provides a contemplative space that honors those Queens residents who fell during the Vietnam War. This semi-enclosed granite memorial is illuminated at night.

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