Flushing Meadows Corona Park

NYC PARKS INCREASES ACCESS TO FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK WITH COMPLETION OF PARKS WITHOUT BORDERS PROJECT

Parks Without Borders Project Features New ADA Accessible Entrance in Time for Act’s 30th Anniversary

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, today joined New York City Council Member Francisco Moya, Community Board 4 District Manager Christian Cassagnol, Queens Zoo Director Mike Allen, and Flushing Meadows Park Conservancy President Jean Silva to unveil the brand new Henry Hudson Entrance at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, completed through the Parks Without Borders (PWB) initiative.

“Through Parks Without Borders, we’ve restored vibrancy to one of Flushing Meadow Corona Park’s most popular gateways.” said Commissioner Silver. “Thanks to Mayor de Blasio’s investment, the new Henry Hudson Entrance will continue to serve as a welcoming pathway for generations of families to pass through and explore everything that this historic park has to offer.”

"This project literally removes the barrier to entry for our borough’s flagship park. I’m thrilled to see the Henry Hudson Entrance reopened at a time when we most need accessible outdoor space to enjoy and unwind in,” said Council Member Fransisco Moya. “I want to thank the Mayor’s office, Parks Department, Community Board 4, and the Flushing Meadows Park Conservancy for their work in making this initiative a success."

The $4.5 million Flushing Meadows Corona Park project, funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio, reconstructed the entrance of the park at 111th Street between 53rd and 56th avenues. Improvements include a reconstructed central entrance plaza, new sidewalks, wider pedestrian routes, and an expanded planting area. The new, accessible Henry Hudson entrance welcomes visitors and leads them directly to the Unisphere, a focal point of Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Parks Without Borders, part of OneNYC, is a design concept that improves the areas where parks meet their neighborhoods—park entrances, edges, and spaces adjacent to parks. By extending parks into communities, opening sight lines, adjusting gates, and adding furnishings outside of our parks’ traditional borders, PWB is improving New Yorkers’ access to quality parks. Utilizing an online survey and 37 conferences with citizens, Parks received more than 6,000 nominations for 691 parks—approximately 30 percent of our parks. The eight selected showcase projects, sharing $40 million in funding from Mayor de Blasio, were revealed in May 2016; and an additional $10 million has been applied to another 40 capital projects in progress.

The other PWB showcase projects are: Fort Greene Park and Prospect Park (Brooklyn); Van Cortlandt Park and Hugh Grant Circle / Virginia Park and Playground (Bronx); Jackie Robinson Park and Seward Park (Manhattan); and Faber Park (Staten Island).

As the site of two World’s Fairs, Flushing Meadows Corona Park has become a recreational escape for the residents of New York City and visitors from around the world. The park’s international flavor draws from the area’s diverse neighborhoods. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is home to Queen’s beloved symbol, The Unisphere, which features representations of the continents and celebrates the World’s Fairs theme of “Peace Through Understanding.” The park draws over three million visitors from all over the world for both spectator and recreational activities.

Know Before You Go

World's Fair Marina

Flushing Meadows Corona Park