FLORAL PARK, LONG ISLAND

Celebrating the Agricultural heritage of Queens

Floral Park is on the border between Queens and Nassau. The latter has a Village of Floral Park, so one must be careful to specify the exact name and county. The Floral Park of Queens is best known for a Farm Museum which records the rich agricultural heritage of the surrounding area. Again, it is strictly not a museum but an actual operating farm-perhaps one of the last in New York. It is spread over more than 45 acres. Livestock, farm implements and equipment, a herbarium and an orchard are things that visitors can inspect in order to have an idea of rustic life and of agricultural productivity.

The Farm Museum has activities throughout the year to promote its attractions amongst visitors, especially children from urban areas. It is easy to get here from any part of Queens, which makes it suitable for day outings. The Apple Festival is a favorite, not just for the variety of fruit on display, but for the excellent cider as well. Children love to spend Halloween on the farm and there is an exhibition each year, where craftspeople display and sell their wares. Hayrides are very popular as well. The Museum conducts special programs on bee-rearing, Colonial cooking and quilt-making. Seasonal farm fresh produce and eggs make for excellent gifts and tasty remembrances at the end of a visit.

Floral Park was known as Hinsdale . It was rechristened as Floral Park when John Lewis Childs set up a nursery here and began selling vegetable and flower seeds using the postal service to make dispatches. The business of hybrid and improved seeds is one of the best examples of value addition in agriculture. It continues in the 21st century. The concept of sending goods through surface post is also important for the productivity and customer convenience it entails.

Though Tulip Avenue is a major thoroughfare of Floral Park , residents have many facilities in neighboring areas within easy reach. The Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Queens Children Hospital, and Creedmor Psychiatric Center are key healthcare institutions in the surrounding area. Alley Pond Park, with over 600 acres of marshes and woods is close enough to provide quality recreation for Floral Park residents. The town is part of Community Board 13. The median income is almost $ 60 thousand and homes are quoted at over $ 800 thousand. Studio rents touch one thousand. Rates may be expected to rise as there is a healthy demand for realty in Floral Park.

Dining is a pleasure in and around Floral Park with a most tempting number of options.

Garden City is amongst the best spots. Bennigan's on Stewart Avenue has a friendly atmosphere and generous portions, plated in appetizing manner. Garden Gourmet is in the same neighborhood and specializes in catering typical American fare and breakfasts for private events. Akbar on Ring Road West, as the name suggests, has meats and vegetables cooked in the traditional and spicy style of the Indian sub-continent. There are plenty of self-service eateries and ice-cream parlors nearby.