Flushing Freedom Mile, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, & Forest Hills Gardens

Sunday, April 26, 2026; meet at 10:45 am in front of The New World Mall 136-20 Roosevelt Ave in Flushing, Queens, N.Y.

Getting there: #7 train to the last stop Flushing-Main St, exit the train station via the SE exit, walk 220 ft along Roosevelt Ave. to the New World Mall.

There are restrooms at the meeting location inside The New World Mall. Aim to arrive before 10:30am if you need to use the restroom. Restrooms inside the Mall are located in: the Food Court in the basement/first lower level, and near the mall’s central corridor by the escalators - follow the signs from the main entrance. There are other restroom facilities along the way including: at the public playground next to the Kingsland Homestead; throughout the Flushing Meadows Corona Park; and, at the end point in Forest Hills.

We will have a 20 minute rest/snack/lunch break about 1.5 hours into the walk at the entrance of the Flushing Medows Corona Park, where there are restrooms and benches - bring your own snack/lunch since there aren’t any eateries or food vendors nearby. There might be some food cart vendors later on once we go further into the Park or you can choose to have lunch at one of the many restaurants in Forest Hills, 71st-Continental Avenue where the walk ends.

The route for this walk pauses at some historical points-of-interest in downtown Flushing, continues on to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and then continues along 108th Street to 71st-Continental Avenue in Forest Hills.
This walk ends in Forest Hills, 71st-Continental Avenue where there are subways: E, F, M, R, and the LIRR. Check the MTA and LIRR schedules.

This is an easy-paced walk, approximately 6 to 7 miles, on flat, paved sidewalks/walkways.

Historical background and points-of-interest along our walk:

While Flushing is known today mainly as a huge Chinatown, it actually has a rich history dating back to the 1600s. Settled in 1645 by Dutch colonists as the village of Vlissingen, named after the Dutch port of Vlissingen (Flushing); the settlement included Dutch, English, and Scandinavian families. From its start Flushing was notable for greater religious diversity than many Dutch settlements. However, tensions grew under Director-General Peter Stuyvesant, who in 1656-1657 enforced strict Dutch Reformed conformity and sought to suppress other sects, in particular, the Quakers. Consequently, on December 27, 1657, local town officials led by John Bowne, drafted a petition, referred to as the Flushing Remonstrance, asserting a right to “liberty of conscience”, protesting Stuyvesant’s orders to arrest and ban Quakers and their religious practices. This petition referred to as the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657 became a touchstone in the development of religious liberty in colonial America and later influenced legal and cultural attitudes toward religious tolerance.
Today, the Kingsland House is a local historic site in downtown Flushing. The Kingsland House was built around 1785 for Quaker farmer Charles Doughty and derives its name from his son-in-law, English sea captain Joseph King, who bought the house in 1801. The architecture of the house characterized by a full two stories, wide side hall plan, gambrel roof for a more spacious attic, and central chimney, the house is a well-scaled and proportioned example of the indigenous Long Island half-house form, which flourished locally in the late 18th and early 19th century. The property was originally used by the King family to grow grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy and livestock; this area was strategically located; close to Long Island Sound and local markets in Newtown/New Amsterdam/New York market.

Currently marked with informational plaques throughout the downtown Flusing area, is the Flushing Freedom Mile. It is a commemorative walking route in downtown Flushing, Queens, honoring the sites and history of the March 25, 1971 “Flushing Freedom March” (also called the Flushing Freedom March for Open Housing). In the late 1960s–early 1970s, New York City faced housing segregation. The community organized to demand fair housing and challenge discriminatory practices. On March 25, 1971, the community staged a large demonstration in Flushing calling for enforcement of civil-rights laws. The march drew residents, clergy, civil-rights groups and local leaders, spotlighting persistent segregation in Queens neighborhoods as the city’s demographics changed. Eventually policy changes were codified and housing practices improved. Years later, community groups and city/local councils created a marked “Freedom Mile” walking route in Flushing to commemorate the march and educate residents and visitors about the neighborhood’s civil-rights history.

Our walk continues on through Flushing Meadows Corona Park which is over 1200 acres and is one of NYC’s largest parks. It was the site for the 1939-1940 World’s Fair and the 1964-1965 World’s Fair. The former NYC Building from the 1939 World’s Fair currently houses the Queens Museum and contains the Panorama of the City of New York. Remaining from the 1964-1965 World’s Fair are the Unisphere, the symbol of the 1964-1965 World’s Fair and global interconnectedness; and, the New York Hall of Science. The park hosts festivals, concerts, fairs, and community events.

Dropout points are numerous while in downtown Flushing; and, non-existent while walking through Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Severe weather or rain cancels.

Kindly update your attendance as soon as possible if your plans change.

Co-leaders :
Maria C Suarez 917.763.0871; and, Ellen Fleishman