Low-Key Spots Near Astoria, LIC For Outdoor Fun On Memorial Day

QUEENS, NY — This Memorial Day in New York City will look different from years past due to social-distancing measures in place to curb the spread of the new coronavirus: City beaches are closed, NYPD officers are being deployed to crack down on large gatherings and everyone is asked to wear a face mask.

With warm weather and partly cloudy skies in the forecast for Memorial Day, many New Yorkers will likely want to spend the holiday outside. That means many of the city's hotspots are bound to get crowded and make it hard to keep away from others.

So, Patch — and some readers — compiled a list of low-key places near Astoria and Long Island City where it may be easier to enjoy the outdoors this Memorial Day without running into large crowds.

Check some suggestions out below:

(Keep up with coronavirus development in Astoria and Long Island City by subscribing to Astoria-Long Island City Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island has plenty of green space and is easily accessible to residents of western Queens, thanks to a bridge at 36th Avenue that connects the island to Astoria. With fewer New Yorkers taking the subway or the tram during the pandemic, Roosevelt Island is bound to be less crowded this holiday weekend than other nearby spots.

34th Avenue

Get those steps in by heading to 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, where the city has closed most of the stretch between 69th Street and Junction Boulevard to traffic to create more room to follow social-distancing rules.

Astoria Park bike lane/Shore Boulevard

Neighbors will likely flock to the grassy expanses of Astoria Park to get a dose of sunshine this weekend, but the newly-closed Shore Boulevard is still a solid spot for runners and cyclists looking to get some exercise.

Gantry Plaza State Park

This Long Island City park with its iconic Pepsi-Cola sign probably won't be a low-key spot over Memorial Day weekend, but Patch readers say it's still one of their favorite places to spend time outdoors. Want more room to spread out? Nearby 5th Street is closed to traffic between 46th and 49th Avenues.

Hunter's Point South Park

There will be even more space to spread out at this waterfront park starting Saturday, when the streets around it are closed to traffic as part of City Hall's Open Streets initiative.

Rainey Park

The Costco next door may be mobbed, but Rainey Park sees much sparser crowds. This green space is smaller than its companion parks along the East River, but it's still a great spot to enjoy the outdoors while staying six feet apart from others.

Your stoop, fire escape or rooftop

Sometimes the best spot is close to home. If you're lucky enough to have some form of outdoor space to call your own, make the most of it.

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