A massive piece of Queens history is about to get a modern facelift.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park—the borough’s largest green space and home to NYC’s largest lake (Meadow Lake at 93 acres)—is officially stepping into a new era. Queens officials and community leaders have launched a unified push to reverse decades of chronic underfunding, committing over $120 million in overall park investments alongside a brand-new task force to restore the historic 900-acre site.
From World’s Fair Icon to Decades of Disinvestment
Located in Corona, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the crown jewel of Queens, but it has long suffered from crumbling infrastructure and severe flooding.
- The History: Originally built to host the 1939–1940 World’s Fair (and later the 1964–1965 World’s Fair), the grounds officially became a NYC public park in 1967
- The Features: It houses iconic landmarks including the Unisphere, two lakes, two museums, a theater, a zoo, and massive athletic venues like Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- The Problem: Despite hosting world-class events like the U.S. Open and Governors Ball—and drawing over 9 million visitors annually—the park’s basic infrastructure has lagged. Most of its underground plumbing hasn’t been updated since the World’s Fairs, leading to constant water leaks and severe storm flooding
Now, local leaders say they’re ending the era of “Band-Aid” fixes.
What’s Planned: A $22.5 Million Playground Overhaul & Infrastructure Fixes
The multi-phase transformation focuses on both immediate community upgrades and long-term climate resilience:
- $22.5M Reconstruction for the Playground for All Children: Originally built in 1984 as America’s first playground designed specifically for both able-bodied kids and children with disabilities, the site hasn’t seen major new funding since it opened. Backed by $17.5M from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and $5M from Councilmember Shanel Thomas-Henry, the site will undergo a complete redesign to honor its original mission with state-of-the-art full accessibility
- Overhauling Underground Utilities: NYC Parks has invested tens of millions into hidden infrastructure, including $10+ million to rebuild electrical vaults damaged by Hurricane Sandy and $41 million for a tide gate bridge reconstruction to control flooding from Flushing Creek
- Restoring Iconic Landmarks: Over $56 million is dedicated to rebuilding the historic observation towers at the New York State Pavilion, with additional plans underway to restore the Unisphere’s famous lights and fog sprinklers
I spent my childhood in this park. I’m 43 years old and not once in my lifetime has this park been meaningfully invested in… We will end this era of disinvestment in our backyard. – Borough President Donovan Richards
The New Task Force: Holding Major Events Accountable
To ensure the 900-acre park gets continuous TLC, Queens officials formed the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Task Force.
Co-chaired by BP Richards and promoter Mike Luba, the collective brings together local community boards, city agencies (DEP, DOT, NYC Parks), and major private partners that utilize the park space—including Governors Ball, the USTA, and the New York Mets.
The goal? A unified effort to advocate for federal funding, coordinate interagency maintenance, and create a comprehensive master plan that ensures major commercial events give directly back to the park’s upkeep.
The Quick Details
- What: A $120M+ multi-project investment & comprehensive master plan
- Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Corona, Queens
- Key Highlight: A $22.5 million total reconstruction of the historic Playground for All Children near 111th Street