Flushing Meadows Guide from New York Hotels
Flushing Meadows (also known as Corona Park) is the second largest public park in New York City. Flushing Meadows is located in the Queens area of the city, just between Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway. Visitors to the area can find many hotel accommodations within a two mile radius of the park for easy access to the park's facilities and hosted events.
Flushing Meadows was created to be the host site of the New York World's Fair in 1939-1940 and hosted the event once again in 1964-1965.Before the first World's Fair, the site was no more than a dumping ground originally referred to as the Corona Ash Dumps. Much of the massive amount of ash was utilized in the bases of the Van Wyck, Long Island and Jackie Robinson Parkways.
The buildings used for the first World's Fair event were utilized after the fair to become the first home of the United Nations until the organization moved into Manhattan in 1951. The buildings then returned to their original purpose when hosting the World's Fair again in 1964. Now the buildings in Flushing Meadows have been removed except for the New York City Pavilion, featuring a scale model panorama of New York City. The Pavilion also features the Queens Museum of Art. There are also a small number of newer buildings that host the New York Hall of Science and a banquet facility known as Terrace on the Park. In 2008, construction was completed on the complex for an indoor pool and ice skating rink.
Flushing Meadows features a number of sculptures that define the major events the park has hosted. The Unisphere was built to symbolize the 1964-1965 World's Fair. It is one of the main features of the park. It was built on the same site where the sculpture for the 1939-1940 World's Fair stood. Flushing Meadows also has sculptures dedicated to sporting events such as the US Open which is held in the park annually.
While exploring the park, visitors also have convenient access to some of the other top attractions in Queens. Visitors can explore the Arthur Ashe Stadium where the US Open takes places. At the north end of the park, Citi Field stands as the new home of the Mets. The old Shea Stadium once stood next to the new stadium.
Inside the park visitors can explore the landscape in many ways. Flushing Meadows has many bicycle paths, playgrounds, recreational fields for cricket or soccer and rental boats for boating on Meadow Lake. Those who come in the summer months can see the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Flushing Meadows also features a special playground known as the Playground for All Children. It was one of the first playgrounds designed for use by children with disabilities.