The best parks in Queens in 2026 are Flushing Meadows Corona Park with the Unisphere, Astoria Park under the Hell Gate Bridge, Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South for skyline views in Long Island City, and Forest Park's old-growth woods. Alley Pond Park, Fort Totten, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Rockaway Beach round out the borough's best.
The World's Fair grounds, with the Unisphere.
Queens' largest park has the Unisphere, the Queens Museum, the New York Hall of Science, Citi Field and the US Open grounds.
Good to know: Rent a bike or a paddleboat on Meadow Lake.
Riverside lawns under the Hell Gate and RFK bridges.
Astoria Park runs along the East River with views of the Hell Gate Bridge and has the city's largest public pool, open in summer.
Good to know: Swim in the giant public pool in summer.
Restored gantries and a front-row view of Midtown.
Gantry Plaza's piers and restored rail gantries face the United Nations and Midtown across the East River, with the Pepsi-Cola sign nearby.
Good to know: Come at dusk to watch the skyline light up.
A modern waterfront park with skyline views.
Hunters Point South Park has sculpted lawns, walkways and an NYC Ferry landing, looking across to Midtown.
Good to know: Take the NYC Ferry here from Wall Street or Midtown.
Old-growth oak forest and trails in central Queens.
Forest Park has some of the largest continuous oak forests in the city, with hiking and horse trails, a carousel and a golf course.
Good to know: Ride the historic carousel.
Woods, wetlands and the city's oldest tree.
Alley Pond Park has trails through forests and wetlands, an environmental center and the 'Queens Giant', thought to be the city's oldest living tree.
Good to know: Visit the Alley Pond Environmental Center with kids.
A Civil War-era fort on Little Neck Bay.
Fort Totten Park has a historic Civil War fort, waterfront views of the Throgs Neck Bridge and seasonal programs.
Good to know: Explore the old battery and tunnels on a ranger tour.
A birdwatching haven in the middle of the city.
The refuge's trails loop around ponds and salt marsh visited by hundreds of species of birds, part of Gateway National Recreation Area.
Good to know: Bring binoculars during spring and fall migration.
Surfing, sand and boardwalk food.
Rockaway Beach's long boardwalk has food concessions and surfing beaches, reachable by subway or the NYC Ferry.
Good to know: Take the ferry for a scenic ride.
Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park in Long Island City face Midtown Manhattan directly across the East River.