>>>>Could easily extend a route through Kissena / Flushing Meadow / Forest Parks and see a lot of cool stuff.<<<<<
If you remember the 1964 (or 1939) World's Fair -- or if you've seen a documentary about either one recently, you can experience lots of little historical moments while riding through Flushing Meadow Park. Here's a splice from the Flushing Meadow page on my website (
http://nyrides.freehosting.net)
2. Flushing Meadow /Corona Park
Including the 1939/1964 World's Fair Grounds, Meadow Lake,
CitiField, The Flushing Bay Promenade, Arthur Ashe Stadium & LaGuardia Airport
LAST RIDE: June, 2010
NOTE: Construction around the unisphere takes some of
the fun out of this ride!
Baby Boomers who grew up in New York should especially enjoy this very simple roll around the beautifully-refurbished grounds of the 1964 World's Fair and its peripheral attractions.
The story of the 1939 and 1964 fairs, both held at this location, is one that is documented comprehensively on other websites. Before setting out on this ride, I would suggest taking a moment to do some research to prepare yourself for the things you will see. If you were fortunate enough to be at either of the fairs, you might even remember many of the sites firsthand.
Essentially, Flushing Meadow/Corona Park is the result of a deal in which Robert Moses (legendary architect of the New York roadscape and park system) converted the "Valley of Ashes," made famous in The Great Gatsby, into a lively, yet peaceful retreat in the middle of Queens. Although most of the grand pavilions of the fairs were torn down the day the last fair ended, enough remains to remind us of the spectacular magnitude of these events. The 12-story stainless steel unisphere (made famous in several movies and TV commercials), the NY State Pavilion's Tent of Tomorrow & Observation Towers (now Theatre in the Park), the Top of the Fair (now Terrace On The Park, where the Beatles' helicopter landed prior to their 1965 Shea Stadium concert) the New York City Pavilion (where the United Nations met in 1947 to vote on the creation of the state of Israel) and scores of other buildings, statues, and landmarks make this a ride full of photo ops and nostalgic moments. As you pedal along, keep in mind that the pavement beneath you was once trod upon by the likes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, the King & Queen of England, and scores of other historical figures.
There's really no way to establish a starting and ending point for this ride. However, it is worthwhile to make sure you see all there is to see. Be aware that there are several overpasses that will bring you to various attractions in the park. When in doubt, take a chance and explore. If you park at the Ice Skating Ring, which you can reach from the Grand Central Parkway by following signs, you will be right in the middle of it all. Adjacent to the rink parking lot is the NY City Pavilion, which now houses the Queens Museum and an awesome panorama of New York City. Outside, you'll see a plaque dedicated to two police officers who died in July 1940 diffusing a bomb at the British Pavilion, a reminder that the original fair opened on the eve of WWII.
Take an overpass to the area where you'll get a close-up look at the NY State Pavilion, now operating as Theatre In The Park. Don't miss the Hall of Science and the space ship replicas that wowwed fair attendees at the peak of the 1960s Space Race. For the kids, there's a petting zoo and various playgrounds. Then there's the Terrace On The Park, which served as the Port Authority Building during the 1964-65 fair and had a helicopter pad on the roof for shuttling in presidents, ambassadors, and other dignitaries from around the world.
Another overpass will take you to Meadow Lake, the sight of various water shows during the fair. This was also New York City's ace-in-the-hole for capturing the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, or at least we thought. The lake got a face lift prior to an Olympic Committee inspection in 2004. NY City lost the bid, but gained a revamped boathouse and a clean bicycle path that skirts the entire lake. Don't miss this part of the park. There's even an outdoor snack bar on the lake in the warm weather months. The photo to the right shows the far end of the lake, with the World's Fair grounds in the background. It looks like a great distance, but trust me, this is an easy ride. You can also rent a boat or take a spin around the lake on a funky four-wheeler or trike. CLICK HERE for info! Finally, while you're in the area, take a ride down the lightly-trafficked road in front of the ice rink, toward Arthur Ashe and CitiField. There's a bike path for part of the way, but you'll have to ride on the road for a bit. There will likely be many other cyclists, so don't worry about being invisible to cars. When in doubt, follow signs to "Marina & Promenade."
Seeing CitiField and Arthur Ashe by bicycle is pretty cool, quite different than driving by in an automobile. However, the highlight of this little side-trip will be the Flushing Bay Promenade, which runs along the Flushing Bay just across from CitiField all the way to LaGuardia Airport. When you reach a traffic circle right in front of CitiField's Parking Lot #8 entrance, make a left and head toward the water. Be careful crossing the roads here. From here, the directions to the promenade are self explanatory. You will see the art-deco bus stop canopies from the 1964 Fair here. Although the promenade extends a short distance to the right, make a left here and head toward LaGuardia Airport.
The Flushing Bay Promenade is often empty, as not many people know how to get here from any of the highways in the area. This was a mistake on the part of the planners, as this could have been a great destination on its own. Ride the promenade to its termination at LaGuardia Airport, stopping at the roadside Dunkin' Donuts along the way (if you need coffee, a sugar fix, or a bathroom) then turn around and head back to wherever your car is parked. This will have been a great day.