Thanks for the writeup on Flushing Meadows - didn't know they revamped the lake area b/c of the 2012 olympic bid. They're still working on a few points (better late than never), but the surrounding bike path isn't the greatest. Definitely don't try it after any rainfall, it's all right @ the water level & floods easily.

Came back through there on my ride this morning & saw a couple crew teams practicing on it which was a surprise! Although I'm more curious to see that chinese dragon boat race that's held over the summer. And it was awesome to just ride up there during the few days prior to the US Open, lock up the bikes, & stroll in to catch some free courtside world-class tennis playing their hearts out for the wild-card spots.

IMO, the most underrated feature of that park is the Column of Jerash, an ancient column built by the Romans & brought over by Jordan for the '64 world's fair. They left it here in a really secluded corner & now it just overlooks the Ecuadorian / Venezuelan soccer games every weekend. Tough to find at first, & I think the sign's been stolen so now it's just a marble column in a park... But prob the 2nd oldest man-made thing that sits outside in NYC, if the oldest is Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park.