Best Parks in Northeast Queens

Now that spring is here, it's time to strip off the layers of sweaters, scarves and jackets and finally get out to enjoy the day again. Here is a list of some of the nicest places in our neighborhood to go for a stroll, take the kids, or walk our furry four legged best friends. I've included maps to help you find your way AND since locals have different names for the parks than does the Parks Dept., I've also given you whatever it is people are calling them.

CLICK ON THE NAMES OF THE PARK FOR DIRECTIONS AND EXACT LOCATIONS!

Throgs Neck Park (AKA Little Bay Park)

Located at the base of the Throgs Neck Bridge in Whitestone, this is one of my favorite places on Earth.  If you spend an hour here on a nice day, there's a good chance that you'll meet everyone in the neighborhood, as I think they would agree on how great a place this is to enjoy the day.


The walking path itself is around 3/4 of a mile so it's not too arduous of a journey if you get caught up in the walk. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the scenery and the breeze. There is also a dog run, if you and the pet want to mingle and network.

Cross Island Walkway (AKA Joe Michael's Mile)

Pretty much everyone from the Brooklyn to the North Fork of LI has heard of the Cross Island Walkway and most likely walked the path at some point. At about 2.25 miles, it's a decent distance to get in some
good cardio, all the while enjoying a cool breeze from the bay.

There is ample space to move, so feel free to come by bike, roller blade, foot, or any other form of pedestrian transportation. Plenty of benches give frequent places to take a break or just sit back and take in the view.

There are a few ways to enter the path: from the Throgs Neck Park, Northern Blvd., or the overpass from Golden Park (see below). There is also a Marina and place to your boat into the water ( I wish I knew the technical term) which can be accessed by a turn-off from the West/Northbound Cross Island.

John Golden Park/Crocheron Park

I don't know where one park begins and the ends, so I'll just include them together. Golden/Crocheron is a family friendly park complete with kids playground, tennis courts, baseball fields and plenty of green space to run free. You can access the Cross Island Path or hit the park from the path via an overpass in the heart if the park.

There are water views and cozy sitting areas and gazebos, if you just want to kick back and relax.




If you are a social dog owner, the park has an unofficial dog meet and greet every morning from around 8-9am. Local residents come and walk their pets before work and park rules allow for the dogs to be unleashed. This is a great place for pets as there are a ton of trash cans and park employees to make sure that the park stays clean.

Long Island Motor Parkway/Queens Greenway

This trail is a terrific neighborhood secret that's pretty much only known to residents local to the path. The path is on the narrow side so biking is probably a bad idea, although I doubt anyone would complain if you did ride through. Mostly, the traffic is kept to joggers or walkers.


There are several entrances to the path: 73rd ave by baseball fields, just off of Francis Lewis Blvd. and the 73rd Ave, and entrances at every dead end street leading to the trail.


The path also boasts being a piece of NY history, as it was the first paved "highway" to connect Queens to Nassau County. The road was used for car races, bootlegging, and whatever else people did before color TV.

Cunningham Park

Cunningham has it all. Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, bocci ball, quite a few baseball fields, picnic areas, and also access to trails throughout the area (Queens Greenway included).

 

There is plenty of parking in the lot or off the side of the park, which is helpful because with so much to do at the park you can always expect a ot of people to be there. On weekends, there is little league baseball and soccer, as well as cross-country track meets and gatherings in the picnic/barbeque areas.

Whitestone Park/Francis Lewis Park

This park is the smallest on the list, but recent renovations and additions make it a great place to relax. There is a new playground for the kids, 2 bocci courts, bathrooms (always a plus), and sitting areas with bridge and water views.

There is no dog run, but many residents bring their pets here for their daily walk. The walkway is lined with plenty of trash cans so the park stays clean from pet "business". That is a HUGE plus because being a dog owner, I always worry which park to go to so I don't have to walk a mile with a bag of poop.

I'm aware that there are other parks in the area that may be good enough to add to the list, but these are the larger locales with plenty of parking and space to run. I'm an ardent promoter of sun and fresh air so I make the time to check out all the parks in the area for me and my furry little guy and these are my picks for best in class... If you think I've missed any, shoot me an email and I'll add them on. Hope you found this helpful!