Kissena natural areas

Underhill, Oak, Rose, Booth Memorial Aves, Kissena Blvd, Fresh Meadow Ln

Kissena Park and Kissena Corridor together create a largely continuous, 128-acre green area along what was formerly a stream corridor that flowed from what is now Cunningham Park to what is now Flushing Meadows Corona Park. This stream was piped and buried after the 1950s, though a few wetlands remain in the park, hinting at the former stream path. In 2011, Parks completed a 16.5-acre, $1.03-million capital project to reforest Kissena Corridor Park where the former stream corridor had been filled. Overabundant weeds that had thrived in poor quality fill were removed and locally-evolved trees were planted. In 2022, another $1.1-million capital forest restoration project was completed in Kissena Park to manage problematic species like phragmites (Phragmites australis) and porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) to make room for native shrubs and trees including maple, oak, and sweetgum. An official network of trails has been created that connects Kissena Park and the reforested area in Kissena Corridor. Existing and buried wetlands throughout Kissena Park and are under study by DEP to increase capacity and ecological function.

The forests of Kissena Park and Corridor give park goers a brief respite from the city streets into the cool shade of black locust, cherry, and sumac trees. Here, the sounds of nature – birds, crickets, and the breeze through the trees – drown out the sounds of nearby street traffic. Points of interest within the woods include a beautiful grove of staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), so named from the fuzzy soft tips of its branches that resemble the antlers of a stag. This group of native trees with brilliant large red flowers in summer is a treat to see only feet from the Booth Memorial Drive.