One of New York City’s most multicultural neighbourhoods, Jackson Heights is located north-west of Queens. It was established as an agricultural area in the early 20th century on the site of a marsh known as Trains Meadow. Jackson Heights is famously home to New York City’s “Little India” and hosts the annual Queens Pride Parade and Festival.
Things to do in Jackson Heights
In the heart of Jackson Heights is Travers Park, a popular recreational destination with a variety of sporting fields and courts. Kids can take advantage of the children’s playground or cool off in the spray showers before enjoying a family picnic on the lawns. In the north-west corner of Jackson Heights is St. Michael's Cemetery, where the ragtime pianist Scott Joplin is laid to rest.
Centred around 74th Street is Little India, which is clustered with South Asian restaurants and Bollywood music stores. You can pick up Indian textiles, incense and instruments at the Butala Emporium or browse women’s clothing at the India Sari Palace. Also within this micro-neighbourhood are eateries serving a diverse range of Latin American cuisine.
Two of the most notable pieces of architecture in Jackson Heights are the Chateau and the Towers, which are two garden apartment buildings designed by Andrew Thomas in the 1920s. While the Chateau was inspired by French Renaissance architecture, the Towers exhibit elements of Italian Romanesque design. Together with more than 2,000 other contributing buildings, they form part of the Jackson Heights Historic District.
Getting around Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights is around 20 minutes’ drive from Manhattan and 25 minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Subway services stop at stations along the southern edge of Jackson Heights while buses travel throughout the neighbourhood, connecting most of its attractions.