Can You Fly a Drone at Flushing Meadows Corona Park?

The Designated Model Aircraft Field

Flushing Meadows Corona Park contains one of NYC’s five designated model aircraft fields, located near the Van Wyck Expressway by Meadow Lake. Under 38 RCNY § 24-02(b)(1), operations at designated fields are exempt from the NYPD permit requirement.

This makes the Flushing Meadows field one of the most accessible legal drone flying locations in all of NYC.

What Still Applies at the Designated Field

Even though no NYPD permit is needed at the designated field, the following FAA requirements apply:

• FAA Part 107 certification (commercial) or TRUST completion (recreational under 49 U.S.C. § 44809)
• LAANC authorization — the park sits between JFK and LGA airports in Class B airspace; check the grid ceiling before flying
• Remote ID broadcast per 14 CFR Part 89
• FAA registration for drones weighing 0.55 lbs (250g) or more
• Compliance with any posted site rules by NYC Parks

Rest of the Park Is Off-Limits

The designated field exemption applies only to the specific model aircraft area. The rest of Flushing Meadows Corona Park—including the Unisphere, the Queens Museum area, the playground areas, and the sports facilities—is NYC Parks property where § 18-146 bans drone operations.

Airspace Challenges

Flushing Meadows sits between LaGuardia Airport to the north and JFK Airport to the south. This positioning means the LAANC grid ceiling at the designated field may be limited. Operators should use the B4UFLY app or FAA UAS Facility Maps to check the authorized altitude at the specific field coordinates before planning a flight.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) may also affect this area during events at nearby Citi Field (home of the New York Mets) or the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the U.S. Open.