Corona Plaza: A Community Gathering Place Rises in Queens
Something special is happening in Corona, Queens. Last week, Streetfilms visited Corona Plaza – the city’s newest car-free space, next to the 103rd Street stop on the 7 train – and found it already packed with families, children, and shoppers.
11:41 AM EDT on August 30, 2012
Share on Facebook Share on X (Twitter) Share on Reddit Share via Email Share on Bluesky
Something special is happening in Corona, Queens. Last week, Streetfilms visited Corona Plaza — the city’s newest car-free space, next to the 103rd Street stop on the 7 train — and found it already packed with families, children, and shoppers.
This plaza has been in the works for many years, and the local community has taken ownership of it immediately. Volunteers help in locking up the tables and chairs at night and assist in cleaning the space themselves.
The area previously had no public seating whatsoever, which is astonishing considering the dozens of restaurants nearby. Now it is a magnet for people, especially kids, who give the place a vibe that feels different than most other pedestrian plazas. To watch parents sit calmly while their children play would have been unheard of before the street was reclaimed from traffic and parking.
Share on Facebook Share on X (Twitter) Share on Reddit Share via Email Share on Bluesky
Clarence Eckerson Jr. is the Director of Video Production for NYCSR’s StreetFilms and producer of bikeTV. He loves the color purple, chocolate chip cookies, and enjoys walking, biking, and taking transit. He has never owned a driver’s license.
Read More:
Andy Wiley-Schwartz|Corona|Plazas|Public Space|Queens|Streetfilms
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you’ll need to reclaim your account by clicking “Forgot your password?” on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog New York City
No Balls! DOT Cancels World Cup Street Viewing Parties After NYPD Balks, Organizers Say
It’s the latest World Cup fail.
April 24, 2026
‘Unacceptable’: Mamdani Condemns Super Speeder Cop, But Won’t Commit to Action
The mayor called James Giovansanti’s 547 speed and red light camera tickets “unacceptable” — but said an official response remains subject to “a conversation internally.”
April 24, 2026
City Officials Shrug at NYPD Cop’s Reckless Driving As Advocates Push ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Bill
What will it take for the city’s political establishment to confront a super-speeding police officer?
April 24, 2026
Streetsblog USA | Friday Video
Friday Video(s): Kidical Mass, Night-Biking in Tokyo, and More
There were great urbanism-adjacent YouTube videos for every taste this week; here are six of our favorites.
April 24, 2026
That Widely Misrepresented E-Mobility Study Actually Reveals Need For Safer Streets, Not Hysteria
A new look into emergency room data at one Manhattan hospital shows a need for more infrastructure, despite what you might have read elsewhere.
April 24, 2026
