Northeastern Queens: Fresh Meadows

Fresh Meadows is a middle class neighborhood made up of small upscale housing developments. Fresh Meadows started as a farming community named Black Stump. The name came about because the developers used black tree stumps to define property lines. The Fresh Meadows Housing Development was the first development created in 1946 by
the New York Life Insurance Company. The New York Life Insurance Company did not allow black individuals to live in the Fresh Meadows Housing Development.

Pictured is Cunningham Park one of the biggest parks in Queens. Known for its various athletic leagues, Cunningham Park features baseball, softball, football, soccer & cricket fields as well as basketball, tennis & bocce courts.

Cunningham Park’s main attraction is the Big Apple Circus which comes to town every spring.


The History section is in collaboration with Steve Vazquez of Queenscapes.