Photo Flash: Flushing Meadows Corona Park Opens Carousel for Summer Season

Today, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Administrator Janice Melnick joined Council Member Julissa Ferreras, Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik, representatives of Community Boards 4,6 and 8, New York Carousel Entertainment, students from P.S. 16 and local residents to open the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel for the season and celebrate the new Fantasy Forest Amusement area. Scroll down for photos from the opening!

"Flushing Meadows Corona Park has been one of Queens' premier recreation destinations ever since its creation for the 1939 World's Fair," said Park Administrator Janice Melnick. "I am delighted to have New York Carousel Entertainment back for another successful season of operating the historic carousel and to welcome the Fantasy Forest amusement area to the park."

"We are very pleased with the welcoming from the community, local officials, and the NY Department of Parks and Recreation has given to Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel," said NY Carousel Entertainment Director Ami Abramson. "We are excited to provide this family attraction, the only amusement park in Queens, to the family and people of Queens."

The majestic Flushing Meadows Carousel was created by the merger of two carousels, the 1903 Feltman Carousel and 1908 Stubbman Carousel. Both were originally located in Coney Island and arrived in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the 1964 World's Fair.

Last year, NY Carousel Entertainment began operating the carousel and, during this past off-season, they performed the first major upgrade of this site since 1968, creating the "Fantasy Forest," amusement area with four new rides, including Queens' only roller coaster.

The site of two twentieth century World's Fairs, Flushing Meadows Corona Park continues to draw millions of visitors every year. The largest park in Queens, it also contains the City's largest lake, baseball, soccer, tennis, and cricket fields, an indoor, Olympic-sized pool and NHL-regulation ice rink, zoo, art museum, botanical garden, science museum, and a baseball stadium.

This summer, the park will host a number of free, kids events adjacent to the Carousel, including "Music, Mommy & Me" on July 23, a movie night on August 1, and the "Little Red's Hood" puppet show on August 6. For more information, visit nyc.gov/parks.

Photo Credit: Daniel Avila/NYC Parks

Flushing Meadows Corona Park "Fantasy Forest" Amusement Area

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Carousel