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Before I begin, let's try to tackle
the ageless debate over the proper name of this park. (errrr,
did I say "ageless"? Ok, ok maybe that's a stretch)
But let us continue. I've checked and checked and checked
and no one seems to be able to say suredly whether it's Flushing
Meadow or Flushing Meadows. Take a look for yourself at some
of our local governmental websites, as well as the maps put
out by the MTA and others and you'll find that it's pretty
much, 50/50. Do searches on Google and other search engines
and you'll get plenty of results for either spelling. To add
the 's' or not to add the 's'. Plural or singular? Hmmmmm,
what do you think? Inquiring minds want to know!
Flushing Meadow Park was home to the World's Fair of 1939-1940,
and later 1964-1965. This park was once a city dump for a
quarter of a century. It was considered one of the most distasteful
places to be near, in or at just 6 years before the first
Fair. As a tribute to the 150th anniversary of George Washington's
Inauguration, the World's Fair was to take place here.
All of the edifices created for this Fair cost over $155
million. A couple of them were the "Trylon" and
the "Perisphere". Over 44 million people showed
up for the Fair during its two seasons.
Through the behest of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, the
second Fair was to take place. That is, with the understanding
that the area would be a permanent park afterwards. 'And that,
it became and still is today! It was from this Fair that emerged
the "Unisphere". A huge hollowed out stainless steel
model of the earth with orbiting paths on the outside. I remember
as a child being taken to this park. Perhaps it was just that
one time, or maybe it was commonplace at the time, but people
would scale the insides of the orb. 'All the way to the top....or
close to it at least. This orb is quite a spectacle! Sitting
there motionless, I can think of nothing that even comes close
to our Brooklyn Bridge, except this one structure. You definitely
need to be up close to see it if you've not done so before.
Within the park are playgrounds, a lake, Arthur Ashe Stadium
(home to plenty tennis opens), Shea Stadium (home to the New
York Mets), Queens Museum of Art,
and plenty of other sights. Flushing Meadow Park is located
in Queens.
To get there by Subway: 7 train line
to Willets Point/Shea Stadium (there's a bit of walking involved...but
it's mostly level land)
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