Flushing Meadows Corona Park is Queens' flagship park, and at roughly 871 acres — per NYC Parks' own property records — it's bigger than Central Park's 843 acres — though it draws a fraction of the visitors, since most of them come from Queens itself rather than from out of town. The site hosted the 1939–40 New York World's Fair and, a generation later, the 1964–65 fair on the same ground. Both left their mark: the Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion, the Queens Museum building and the Hall of Science all trace back to one fair or the other. Compare that to the more curated, tourist-heavy layout of Central Park and you get a genuinely different kind of big city park — one built for the neighborhood around it as much as for visitors.
The Unisphere
The Unisphere is the park's centerpiece and its most photographed spot: a 140-foot stainless-steel globe, 120 feet in diameter, built as the theme symbol of the 1964–65 World's Fair. It's ringed by a reflecting pool with fountains that run in the warmer months, and it's still exactly where it was installed six decades ago.
The New York State Pavilion
A short walk from the Unisphere stands the New York State Pavilion, designed by architect Philip Johnson for the 1964 fair — the flying-saucer-like Tent of Tomorrow and its observation towers are instantly recognizable from photos, even though the structure has been closed to the public for decades. You can walk around and view it from outside; it's one of the more striking pieces of mid-century architecture left standing in the city.
The Queens Museum and the Panorama of the City of New York
Housed in the former New York City Pavilion from the 1964 fair, the Queens Museum holds the Panorama of the City of New York — a giant scale model of all five boroughs, block by block, built for that same fair and still on permanent display. It's one of the more genuinely surprising things to see in the city and worth the detour even if you're not normally a museum person. Admission is pay-what-you-wish (suggested $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students as of this check), and the museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays — confirm current pricing and hours at queensmuseum.org.
Queens Zoo and the New York Hall of Science
The Queens Zoo, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, sits near the park's southern end and is a remnant of the World's Fair site. The New York Hall of Science, on the park's eastern side, was one of the country's first hands-on science museums and still operates in its original World's Fair-era building, now expanded with interactive exhibits geared toward kids. As of this check, general admission there runs $22 for adults and $19 for children, students and seniors, it's closed Mondays, and admission is free every Friday from 2 to 5pm — check nysci.org for current pricing and hours before you go.
Meadow Lake, Willow Lake, cricket and soccer
Meadow Lake and Willow Lake, both dug out ahead of the 1939 fair, anchor the park's southern half. Meadow Lake is the larger of the two and the one with boating. But the real draw on any given weekend is the open fields around them: cricket pitches and soccer fields that stay busy from morning to dusk, packed with local leagues from the neighborhoods around the park. It's a good argument for why Flushing Meadows might be the most genuinely used-by-locals big park in the city — this isn't a park built primarily for tourists, and it shows.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and Citi Field
The park's northern end is home to two of the city's biggest sports venues. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has hosted the US Open every year since 1978, Arthur Ashe Stadium included. Right next door sits Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Both draw huge crowds independent of the park itself, and both sit close enough to the Unisphere and the museums that a single visit during the tournament or baseball season can cover all of it.
Getting to Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Take the 7 train. Mets-Willets Point station sits at the park's north end, right by Citi Field and the tennis center. 111th Street station is closer to the Unisphere, the museums and the zoo, on the park's western side. The Long Island Rail Road's Port Washington Branch also stops at Mets-Willets Point, which is the faster option from Penn Station on event days. Driving is an option too — there's more parking here than in most Manhattan parks — but the 7 train is generally quicker once you're in the city.
Frequently asked questions about Flushing Meadows Corona Park
How big is Flushing Meadows Corona Park?
Roughly 871 acres — NYC Parks' own property records put it at 870.76 acres. That's still bigger than Central Park's 843 acres, though Central Park gets far more annual visitors.
Why does Flushing Meadows Corona Park have a giant globe in it?
The Unisphere. It's a 140-foot stainless-steel globe, 120 feet across, built as the centerpiece of the 1964–65 World's Fair. It's the park's most recognizable landmark and still stands exactly where it was built.
What World's Fairs were held at Flushing Meadows?
Two: the 1939–40 New York World's Fair and the 1964–65 New York World's Fair. Both used the same site, and a fair amount of what's in the park today — the Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion, the Queens Museum building — dates back to one fair or the other.
What is the Panorama of the City of New York?
A giant scale model of all five boroughs, built for the 1964 fair and now on permanent display inside the Queens Museum, in the building that originally housed the New York City Pavilion.
Is the New York State Pavilion open to the public?
No. The Philip Johnson-designed structure from the 1964 fair still stands in the park, but it's been closed and largely unused for decades. You can view it from outside.
How do you get to Flushing Meadows Corona Park by subway?
Take the 7 train. Mets-Willets Point station puts you at the north end, closest to Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 111th Street station is closer to the Unisphere, the Queens Museum and the zoo. The LIRR's Port Washington Branch also stops at Mets-Willets Point.
Is Flushing Meadows Corona Park bigger than Central Park?
Yes. At roughly 871 acres (NYC Parks' official figure) it's bigger than Central Park's 843 acres, even though far fewer visitors from outside Queens make the trip. See our full breakdown at how big is Central Park for the comparison.
What sports do people actually play at Flushing Meadows Corona Park?
Cricket and soccer, heavily, on pitches that fill up most weekends with local leagues — this is one of the most consistently used-by-locals big parks in the city. There's also boating on Meadow Lake and tennis at the public courts near the USTA center.