Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==== Early 21st century ==== By the early 2000s, the park had become the residence of a number of homeless people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/nyregion/26census.html |work=The New York Times |first=Alan |last=Feuer |title=Who Calls Central Park Home? Census Counts 25 |date=March 25, 2011 |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073255/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/nyregion/26census.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This fact received attention after five possibly homeless individuals abducted, raped, and threatened to kill a woman who had been sitting with her partner at the nearby [[Mets–Willets Point station (IRT Flushing Line)|Mets–Willets Point subway station]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/28/nyregion/squalid-site-of-queens-rape-unnoticed-by-public-nearby.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |work=The New York Times |first=Michael |last=Wilson |title=Squalid Site of Queens Rape Unnoticed by Public Nearby |date=December 28, 2002 |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406201304/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/28/nyregion/squalid-site-of-queens-rape-unnoticed-by-public-nearby.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Nike_Go_Play_Day_-_Skate_Kitchen_and_Quell_skateboarding_meet_up_hosted_by_Leo_Baker.jpg|thumb|Nike Go Play Day - Skate Kitchen and Quell skateboarding meet up hosted by Leo Baker at the Maloof Skatepark]] Several improvements were made to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the 2000s and 2010s. The Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Conservancy was formed in 2002 to advocate for parkland in the area.<ref>{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Shane | title=Willow Lake trail named for the late Pat Dolan - A nature trail that winds around a lake in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was renamed Sunday in honor of a woman who worked for years to preserve its natural beauty. On Sunday morning at a Kew Gardens... | website=Queens Ledger | date=April 24, 2013 | url=http://queensledger.com/view/full_story/22345219/article-Willow-Lake-trail-named-for-the-late-Pat-Dolan | access-date=August 22, 2019 | archive-date=April 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407074533/http://queensledger.com/view/full_story/22345219/article-Willow-Lake-trail-named-for-the-late-Pat-Dolan | url-status=live }}</ref> The $66.3 million [[Flushing Meadows Natatorium]], encompassing an Olympic-sized public indoor pool and an [[National Hockey League|NHL]] regulation-sized skating rink, opened in 2008. The facility is the largest recreation complex in any New York City park, at {{convert|110000|sqft|m2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/capital/parks/flushing_meadows_corona_park_pool_rink.html |title= Flushing Meadows Corona Park |publisher= [[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] |access-date= March 19, 2018 |archive-date= November 26, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111126045336/http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/capital/parks/flushing_meadows_corona_park_pool_rink.html |url-status= live }}</ref> This was followed by the opening of [[Citi Field]], a new baseball field to replace Shea Stadium, in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/sports/baseball/30vecsey.html|title=Ballpark Pioneers Witness Citi Field's First Pitch|last=Vecsey|first=George|date=March 29, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 22, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073335/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/sports/baseball/30vecsey.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Another public-private partnership, the Alliance for Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, was created in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151116/corona/new-alliance-for-flushing-meadows-corona-park-hopes-boost-funds|title=New Alliance for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Hopes to Boost Funds|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201192248/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151116/corona/new-alliance-for-flushing-meadows-corona-park-hopes-boost-funds/|archive-date=December 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It commenced construction on, or announced plans for, several improvement projects at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/news/worlds-fair-fountains-queens-1.16726028|title=World's Fair fountains in Queens to get $5M makeover|date=February 12, 2018|website=am New York|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513205632/https://www.amny.com/news/worlds-fair-fountains-queens-1.16726028|url-status=live}}</ref> These included a plan to restore the New York State Pavilion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/fmcp-projects-win-design-awards/article_d4258bc1-5677-5a2e-bb79-e06306ed92ae.html|title=FMCP projects win design awards|last=Haynes|first=Daniel C.|date=June 2, 2018|website=Queens Chronicle|access-date=June 2, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117131738/https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/fmcp-projects-win-design-awards/article_d4258bc1-5677-5a2e-bb79-e06306ed92ae.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7009|title=New York State Pavilion Observation Towers Reconstruction : NYC Parks|website=www.nycgovparks.org|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073419/https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7009|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the construction of a "mist garden" in the park's Fountains of the Fairs.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2018/2/13/17007934/queens-flushing-meadows-park-world-fair-fountains-renovation|title=World's Fair fountains in Queens will transform into 'mist gardens'|last=Plitt|first=Amy|date=February 13, 2018|website=Curbed NY|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023508/https://ny.curbed.com/2018/2/13/17007934/queens-flushing-meadows-park-world-fair-fountains-renovation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7391|title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park Fountain of the Fairs Reconstruction : NYC Parks|website=www.nycgovparks.org|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513205635/https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7391|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Other projects included the construction of a promenade around Meadow Lake<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/5977|title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park Meadow Lake Promenade Reconstruction : NYC Parks|website=www.nycgovparks.org|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513205629/https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/5977|url-status=live}}</ref> and the rehabilitation of the World's Fair Playground and the marina.<ref name=":2" /> In 2015, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park also started hosting the [[Queens Night Market]], a summertime food market that features cuisine from dozens of countries.<ref name=QueensNightMarket>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/new-york-voted-best-city-in-the-world-in-massive-worldwide-survey-031119|title=Citing its diversity and culture, NYC was voted best city in the world in new global survey|first=Will|last=Gleason|work=TimeOut|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=June 23, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511000342/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/new-york-voted-best-city-in-the-world-in-massive-worldwide-survey-031119|url-status=live}}</ref> The market became popular due to its affordability, since all food cost a maximum of $5–6.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qns.com/story/2019/04/18/queens-international-night-market-kicks-off-another-season-saturday-night/|title=Queens International Night Market kicks off another season Saturday night|last=Parry|first=Bill|date=April 18, 2019|website=QNS.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525021457/https://qns.com/story/2019/04/18/queens-international-night-market-kicks-off-another-season-saturday-night/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/queens-night-market-begins-a-new-chapter-11552005423|title=Queens Night Market Begins a New Chapter|last=Passy|first=Charles|date=March 8, 2019|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 22, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517051413/https://www.wsj.com/articles/queens-night-market-begins-a-new-chapter-11552005423|url-status=live}}</ref> Another food festival, the World's Fare, started in 2017 and is hosted in Citi Field's parking lot on about the third weekend of May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qns.com/story/2018/11/28/worlds-fare-return-flushings-citi-field-may-2019-second-helping-global-eats/|title=The World's Fare returns to Flushing's Citi Field in May of 2019 for second helping of global eats|last=Hallum|first=Mark|date=November 28, 2018|website=QNS.com|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525025103/https://qns.com/story/2018/11/28/worlds-fare-return-flushings-citi-field-may-2019-second-helping-global-eats/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/worlds-fare-returns-to-queens-for-weekend-of-global-cuisine/ar-AABvKSF|title='World's Fare' Returns To Queens For Weekend Of Global Cuisine|date=May 10, 2019|website=MSN|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231091556/https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/worlds-fare-returns-to-queens-for-weekend-of-global-cuisine/ar-AABvKSF|url-status=live}}</ref> Restoration of the New York State Pavilion began in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|title=NYC Parks breaks ground on $24 million project to preserve the World's Fair Pavilion towers|url=https://qns.com/story/2019/11/08/nyc-parks-breaks-ground-on-24-million-project-to-preserve-the-worlds-fair-pavilion-towers/|last=Parry|first=Bill|date=November 8, 2019|website=QNS.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815200413/https://qns.com/story/2019/11/08/nyc-parks-breaks-ground-on-24-million-project-to-preserve-the-worlds-fair-pavilion-towers/|url-status=live}}</ref> as did work on the Fountains of the Fairs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park Fountain of the Fairs Reconstruction|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7391|publisher=New York City Department of Parks and Recreation|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426183309/https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/capital-project-tracker/project/7391|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fountains of the Fairs were dedicated in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web | last=Parry | first=Bill | title=City completes $6.8 million restoration of fountains at Flushing Meadows Corona Park | website=QNS.com | date=October 29, 2020 | url=https://qns.com/2020/10/city-completes-6-8-million-restoration-of-fountains-at-flushing-meadows-corona-park/ | access-date=July 26, 2021 | archive-date=June 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625113928/https://qns.com/2020/10/city-completes-6-8-million-restoration-of-fountains-at-flushing-meadows-corona-park/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Weaver | first=Shaye | title=See the new misting plaza at Flushing Meadows Corona Park | website=Time Out New York | date=October 30, 2020 | url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-new-misting-plaza-at-flushing-meadows-corona-park-103020 | access-date=July 26, 2021 | archive-date=July 26, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726021756/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-new-misting-plaza-at-flushing-meadows-corona-park-103020 | url-status=live }}</ref> In early 2022, the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) gave a local group, the Waterfront Alliance, a $530,000 grant to study the effects of climate change at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park after U.S. representative [[Grace Meng]] had requested the grant the previous year.<ref name="Crain's New York Business 2022">{{cite web | title=Flood-prone city park gets a climate resilience plan | website=Crain's New York Business | date=March 31, 2022 | url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/climate-change/flood-prone-flushing-meadows-corona-park-gets-climate-resilience-plan | access-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031225315/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/climate-change/flood-prone-flushing-meadows-corona-park-gets-climate-resilience-plan | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Feldman 2022"/> The park was extremely vulnerable to flooding because of its topography and because of [[sea level rise]] caused by [[global warming]]. Climate scientists had predicted that parts of the park would be flooded regularly by the 2050s<ref name="Feldman 2022"/> and that the entire park could be underwater by the 2080s.<ref name="Crain's New York Business 2022"/><ref name="Parry 2022">{{cite web | last=Parry | first=Bill | title=Waterfront Alliance secures federal funding for climate resilience plan for Flushing Meadows Corona Park – QNS.com | website=QNS.com | date=April 1, 2022 | url=https://qns.com/2022/04/waterfront-alliance-climate-resilience-plan-flushing-meadows-corona-park/ | access-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031222300/https://qns.com/2022/04/waterfront-alliance-climate-resilience-plan-flushing-meadows-corona-park/ | url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, the city government was spending $350 million on various upgrades at the park.<ref name="Feldman 2022">{{cite web | last=Feldman | first=Ari Ephraim | title=Federal grant spurs Flushing Meadows Corona Park resiliency plan | website=Spectrum News NY1 New York City | date=March 17, 2022 | url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/03/17/federal-grant-spurs-flushing-meadows-corona-park-resiliency-plan | access-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-date=October 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031222259/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/03/17/federal-grant-spurs-flushing-meadows-corona-park-resiliency-plan | url-status=live }}</ref> By mid-2023, the New York City government was considering erecting tents in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park to temporarily house asylum seekers. This move came after the federal government repealed an order authorizing [[Title 42 expulsion]]s of migrants, which had been implemented during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=nyt-2023-05-08>{{Cite news|last=Rubinstein|first=Dana|date=May 8, 2023|title=Racetracks, Parks, Offices: A Frantic Search for Migrant Housing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/nyregion/migrants-shelter-flatiron-nyc.html|access-date=May 12, 2023|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512155932/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/nyregion/migrants-shelter-flatiron-nyc.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gloria Pazmino 2023">{{cite web | last=Gloria Pazmino | first=Samantha Beech | title=New York City mayor announces plan to transport willing migrants to locations outside the city ahead of expected surge | website=CNN | date=May 6, 2023 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/us/nyc-tent-housing-migrant-surge/index.html | access-date=May 12, 2023 | archive-date=May 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512001514/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/us/nyc-tent-housing-migrant-surge/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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