Francis Lewis Park

Francis Lewis Park is a 17-acre waterfront park on the East River in the Whitestone section of northeastern Queens. The park is named for Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who lived in the area during the Revolutionary War era.

Lewis was a Welsh-born merchant who settled in New York and became an ardent supporter of American independence. His wife was captured and imprisoned by the British during the Revolution, and his property was confiscated. Despite these personal sacrifices, Lewis continued to serve the revolutionary cause as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

The park stretches along the East River shoreline beneath the Whitestone Bridge, offering views across the water to the Bronx, the Throgs Neck Bridge, and Long Island Sound. The waterfront promenade provides a pleasant walking and jogging route along a section of shoreline that was previously inaccessible to the public.

The park features athletic fields, a playground, picnic areas, and the waterfront walkway. Its location in Whitestone, one of Queens' most residential neighborhoods, means it primarily serves local families who use it for daily recreation and waterfront enjoyment.

Francis Lewis Park honors a founding father whose sacrifices for American independence were among the most personally costly of any signer of the Declaration, connecting a quiet waterfront park in Queens to the revolutionary ideals that shaped the nation.