Cunningham Park

I wish I could write a review on the mountain biking trails alone. This place is easily one of the best xc mountain biking trails that I’ve ever seen. They have everything from logs, small bridges, 2 – 3 pump tracks, and multiple levels of difficulties.
I remember when this track first opened up (illegally), and now that its an official feature of the park, this place has become even better maintained. Great job to CLIMB and everyone involved in maintaining this trail

I love this park! Some nice Geocaches are hidden here. During the year at concerts they have fireworks and other nice events.

I’ve been enjoying Cunningham Park for 35+ years, it is an amazing place. The wooded areas seem so incongruent with the NY metropolitan scene, but if you are a nature lover, you can keep your sanity because these large, wooded areas exist. The one bad change I’ve seen is how poison ivy has just totally encroached on the narrow foot trails in the southeast quadrant and has really made them inaccessible during the summer and into the fall. Other invasive vines like bittersweet, porcelan berry, honeysuckle, English ivy, Japanese wineberry and wintergreen have also twined across the trails and restricted movement. I’m sure in this day of budget cutbacks, Parks Department doesn’t have a lot of $$ to maintain an area that few people utilize. But, if you love nature, check out these wonderful foot trails after the poison ivy has died back, you will not believe you are in NYC!

Something about this park that always gives me a bad vibe. It’s the public private tennis facility. The people are not very friendly to the point of just plain mean. I don’t know what their problem is. I just bite my lip and let it go. Now the public side of the courts are fine.
Now Alley Pond tennis is very welcoming.

Running. Biking. Jogging. Walking.
This is my go to for some alone time.
Wish I had more time to run through the park.

The best part of summers in New York City are all the free productions that goes on in its parks. The best known and most popular are probably Shakespeare in the (Central) Park and movies in Bryant Park but occasionally, you’ll see some equally incredible shows in the parks throughout all the boroughs.
Cunningham Park is one such park, located in my home borough of Queens where on one magical summer night, I’d be bold enough to say that we’re probably the coolest borough out of the 5. The New York Philharmonic throws a concert here every year, drawing thousands of spectators for a beautiful evening of music and fireworks.
This year was the 50^th annual event and they played songs from the West SIde Story. It was my first time so I wasn’t as prepared but for next year, these are the things I will not forget to bring with me:
A mat — the wet grass underneath soaked through our blanket
A blanket to put over the mat — comfort is just as practical sometimes
A picnic — some fruit, some wine, some cheeses, some sandwiches, some sweets and water
Electric candles — it get’s a little dark when the sun goes down
Bug repellent — beware of the mosquitoes
A sweater — it got a little cold when the sun went down
A plastic bag — to throw or trash out and keep the park as pristine as when we first arrived.
I suggest you carpool and arrive at least an hour before showtime, especially if you’re coming with a group because parking is hard to find, and it’s a first come first serve system where it’s up to you to grab your patch of land as close to the stage as possible.

The most Beautiful park to ride my bike in been going there for years the park I believe it’s the biggest in queens definitely check it out and not to mention very clean

Great park for picnics, jogging, having bbqs and even bringing your dog to the dog park.

I went today with my family to see Big Apple Circus in Cunningham Park. We had really good time specially they had a really nice show with animals.
I would take my kids back again to watch the show.

The expansive, aesthetically pleasing and multi-​functional Cunningham Park sets the standard for what a borough recreational facility should be. Rolling hills and fields for just about any sport you could want to play outdoors — baseball, soccer, cricket, lacrosse, you name it – make the pastoral setting one that lingers in your consciousness long after you’ve walked, biked or driven home.
I can’t think of a time when I didn’t know Cunningham Park, learning its grassy fields as a Little League outfielder, as a less-​than-​stellar freshman would-​be football player, as a partygoer on those high school spring keggers and as a beginning driver taking the state licensing exam. Since then, there has even been the addition of mountain biking trails in the areas off 73^rd Avenue and near Francis Lewis Boulevard, as well as the hilly woods closer to Alley Pond Park. Even as there are no mountains to speak of, the trails offer a quick, decent two-​wheeled workout.
A paved path links Cunningham Park to Alley Pond Park to the east, and runners can enjoy the undisturbed route over the Long Island Expressway toward Kissena Park, easily allowing for a run of eight-​plus miles with minimal automotive traffic. I used it often when training for road races.
There are plenty of times when you might feel as if you’re somewhere other than Queens, such as a far-​flung forest. Good stuff, and I hope more people come to know and love the park as I have learned over the past several decades.

Cunningham park is a pretty nice area to be in, whether it’s to just sit there and enjoy the air or to jog around and exercise. There is a lot of open space which makes it easy and fun to go hang out with friends and play sports. All the way in the back are basketball courts (not sure if that’s part of cunningham or not, but still a nice place to shoot some hoops). It is also a nice area to have a picnic.

Aside from Flushing Meadow, Cunningham Park is the only other park in the vicinity that allows grilling. For a person that doesn’t have a yard and enjoys the great outdoors on a nice day accompanied by some nice bbq that’s important.
The benches can be reserved in advanced if you are planning a party but a lot of the time you will find people sitting at your bench anyway and then they give you a hard time about moving. Parks Department comes around every so often to make sure there aren’t any incidents. The Police also patrol frequently as sometimes drunks at these gatherings can get out of hand. If you prefer to bring your own chairs and grill then it’s your world. Just pick a spot and chill.
I plan on returning in the summer for a nice family outing.

Cunningham park is awesome best thing in queens to do! It’s so big connects many different communities and each park has different courts!
Used to bike on this for hours on the weekend wish I had the time to do it afain! If you want to see foliage you can do it in cunninghamn park

*** PSA: do New Yorkers know you can not go into a children’s playground unless you are accompanying a child? Yes you might think you are normal and there’s nothing wrong but please don’t go in if you’re a single dude of any age. It’s effin’ CREEPY. Maybe you’re a molester, maybe you’re not. Just don’t enter please. There is a sign with Rules as you enter informing you of that law. It was created for the safety of kids and their guardians. ***

This park is big! Great place to walk, relax, baseball, & biking. We were walking on the historic Long Island /​Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, which is a great trail for walking, biking, & jogging. It’s a great local park. It’s never crowded here. Parking is also easy.

I love the bike trails here. They do not have any major altitude, but you do not need to find a way to the mountains, you do not need to drive for hours. There is a green loop which is perhaps two miles total for beginners, then there is the blue/​black loop, which breaks off the green. All told, to hit every trail, you’ll probably ride about 7 miles or sort.
The trails are well maintained, tight single track, with some technical features. A great place to work out, and a great place to learn.
Not overly crowded, and the other bikers are very friendly.
You have to be careful for the occasional hiker or dog walker, as though these are MTB trails, they are officially listed as mixed use.

Nice, big, pet friendly park that offers free movies and popcorn in the summer. In addition to the traditional park amenities, there is a parking lot and an area to play bocci ball.

This park has been a staple in the community for as long as I can remember. It’s ginormous & at times can be overwhelming. There’s so much land.
It puts a smile on my face whether I’m passing by, enjoying the circus or going for a walk. This park brings out the best in people. There’s never any drama, ratchetness or people disturbing you. I love this park because of the way it makes me feel. My mood is always uplifted and positive.
This is a great place to bring a date, children, family etc. It’s an awesome place to sightsee, grill up some chops or even to have a cute picnic. I never feel worried about my safety or the safety of others when I’m here.

Simply to say it has a lot of perks. For joggers, baseball players, to bbq’s, to concerts even. I consider this actually one of the safest parks in Queens. Very family oriented. Definitely a great place to bring your kids and even friends to hangout. As the weather gets warmer. It will get crowded. Make sure to book your spots for future BBQ’s or league games if needed. Other then that, take a walk with me! Say hi if you would like. I promise not to give you the weird look… maybe ~

I’ve lived in the area my whole life and I’ve enjoyed Cunningham Park just as long.
This has always been a lovely park, and it’s presently undergoing some renovations. I especially love it this time a year, because we love to come over here on our nightly walks and do a few laps.
Always lots of people, lots of kids having fun, and it’s a great place to meet many of the dogs in the area if you’re a dog lover.
Sometimes it can get too crowded, to the point where it’s a little aggravating. I guess that’s a consequence of living in a city where most people are renters, and as such don’t have their own back yards. So sometimes we just have to stay away.
But generally, this park is clean, quiet and peaceful and we try to get over here as many evenings as possible, especially during the summer.