In the early 1900s, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park was famously known as the “valley of ashes”—the wasteland immortalized in The Great Gatsby. Once wetlands along Flushing Creek, it was later buried under ash and rubble and transformed to host two World’s Fairs. Today, it’s one of NYC’s most diverse parks and one of the city’s most exposed assets to climate change and flood impacts.
Join landscape architecture firm SCAPE on a walk through the park to learn how the park is being reimagined through daylighting as a more resilient destination—a process that will bring the river back to the surface and to a more natural state. Discover the park’s rich cultural history and how equitable, climate-adaptive design, ecology, public life, and infrastructure can coexist while restoring access to one of NY’s most cherished parks.
Accessibility
On this guided walking tour, you’ll be on your feet for about an hour and a half as we explore key landmarks that tell the story of the park’s history over the past century, its transformation, and the erasure of its natural water systems. The route will cover roughly 2–4 miles, with stops along the way.
The park is wheelchair accessible, with paved paths and mostly flat terrain, but please let us know if you need any specific accommodations. If you’re taking public transit, the nearest train stop is Mets–Willets Point, and the closest bus stop is 108 St/Roosevelt Ave.
Appropriate walking shoes recommended.
Location Information
RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.
guided
Saturday, May 2, 202611:00 AM
90 minutes
Borough: Queens
Theme: Advocacy, Environment
Language: English
