Running Map - Kissena Park

Queens: Cunningham Park, Flushing Meadows Park, Alley Pond Park, Astoria Park, Forest Park, Kissena Park, Crocheron Park, Throgs Neck Park - Cross-Island Bike Path

Kissena Park

Like most parks in Queens, they somehow fit a lot of variety in a small space. Kissena Park is a long skinny park that is the home of the only Velodrome in Queens, a natural lake, and car free running. Despite being mainly a linear, out-and-back run, there are a few side detours that can make this section of Queens memorable. It is also a great junction between Flushing Meadows Park and Cunningham Park.

Queens Botanical Gardens/Main Street Entrance

If you start on the western most point on Main Street, you have to look carefully for the dirt trail that will lead you across the park. Start from the corner entrance and cut across the softball field. In right field, you'll see an opening in the field which is your soft surface route eastward through the park. Otherwise, you'll have to run the recommended bike route along the southern border of the park. It is a little over 3/4 of a mile from Main Street to Kissena Boulevard via the trail. It is important to note that you can leave Kissena Park westward and run through the Queens Botanical Gardens to Flushing Meadows Park for a longer run.

The Core of Kissena Park (Lake and Velodrome)

Once you cross Kissena Boulevard, you follow a paved pathway along a few baseball fields. At this point you have a few options. First, if you choose to continue west, you'll make your way to Kissena Lake which is a pretty half mile detour around. A second choice is to continue around the baseball fields north and then make a right, running along the northern border of Kissena Park which will also eventually bring you to Kissena Lake. The third option is the soft surface option. You can turn south and explore the trails near the Kissena Velodrome in the southwestern part of the park. The trails are short lived, but can be a mental getaway, momentarily allowing you to forget that you're running in New York City. Eventually, you'll funnel out onto 164th Street, which can be tricky to cross as there is no light or real cross-walk.

Heading to Cunningham Park

Once you cross 164th Street, you'll be running across a field that is bordering the local golf course. Eventually, you'll be lead to a paved path that continues along side the golf course. Shortly, you'll come to Fresh Meadow Lane. After you cross the street, the path to Cunningham Park is obvious. You can continue running west along the skinny strip of park which will lead you to a bridge that crosses over the Long Island Expressway into Cunningham Park. From the Queens Botanical Gardens to Cunningham Park it is about 2.75 miles if you take the most direct route.

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