Credit: Thirteen.org

This is one of the sites that people immediately recognize but don’t necessarily place right away. It’s the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Flushing Meadows Park is actually part of a triumvirate of places,  grouped with the Flushing Waterfront and Willets Point. Willets Point is famous for Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets. There have been recent plans for the Flushing Waterfront over the years, like the Flushing Commons, a planned high-rise condominium, and Skyview Mall, which is located in College Point.

Source: 2004 FMCP Restoration Framework Plan
Quennell Rothschild & Partners | Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects
J.M. Kaplan Fund and NYC DPR

Flushing Meadows Park hosted the second World Fair in New York City in 1964; the first was held in 1939. Now, the Park is home to the Queens Museum of Art, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Queens Zoo,  the New York Hall of Science, and so on.

Credit: Hiroko Masuike and the New York Times

The Park is a shelter for many locals. It attracts locals, whom are primarily immigrants. In fact, if you visit the park on the weekends, you might be able to observe an intense game of soccer between Latinos and a game of cricket amongst Southeast Asians. You may walk past women selling “sliced mangoes…for $3” (Kilgannon). In the summer, you may even be able to catch a glimpse at the intense Dragon Boat Festival. You’re in Flushing Meadows Park, one of the few places in Queens that offers an escape from city life.

Credit: Anthony Delmundo and the New York Daily News
ConEdison: One team out of many practicing for the Festival set in August

Come visit the Park sometime! Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your dog and a frisbee. You can find out more about directions from the 7 line here and the Park is located at the Willets Point stop. You can always learn about ongoing events in Flushing Meadows Park by checking out The New York City Parks and Recreation site as well as the Official NYC Parks and Rec Twitter.