Glen Oaks, Queens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glen Oaks
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Neighborhood of Queens
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City | New York City |
| County/Borough | Queens |
| Community District | Queens 13 |
| Population | |
| • Total | 27,546 |
| Ethnicity | |
| • White Non-Hispanic | 47.3% |
| • Black | 20.7% |
| • Hispanic (Are of any origin) | 28.1% |
| • Asian | 27.3% |
| • Other/Multiracial | 3.1% |
| Economics $109,276 | |
| ZIP Code |
11004, 11005, 11040 (partial), 11426 (partial)
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| Area code(s) | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Glen Oaks is a neighborhood located in the eastern part of Queens, a borough of New York City. It's the furthest east neighborhood in Queens and shares a border with Nassau County. Glen Oaks is part of Queens Community Board 13.
Contents
Exploring Glen Oaks: Location and Surroundings
Glen Oaks is bordered by several important roads and areas. To the north, you'll find the Grand Central Parkway and Nassau County. To the south is Union Turnpike. The eastern border is the Queens/Nassau line, also known as Lakeville Road. To the west, it's bordered by the Cross Island Parkway.
Even though it's not directly on the border, many homes in Floral Park use Glen Oaks as their mailing address. The border between Queens and Nassau County is often called "the city line" by locals. You'll even see it marked on New York City buses! Union Turnpike is the main street for shops and businesses in the area.
Unique Landscape of Glen Oaks
The northern part of Glen Oaks has a line of hills. These hills were formed by a terminal moraine, which is a pile of rocks and dirt left behind by a glacier during the last glacial period (Ice Age). One of these hills is the highest point in Queens, reaching about 258 feet (78.6 meters) above sea level! The southern part of Glen Oaks is a flat area called a glacial outwash plain, also created by melting glaciers.
Understanding ZIP Codes in Glen Oaks
The postal ZIP Code zones in this area don't always follow the exact neighborhood borders. Some even cross the city line into Nassau County. For example, parts of Glen Oaks might have ZIP codes that are addressed as New Hyde Park or Floral Park. This can sometimes cause confusion, especially when it comes to things like sales tax rates.
Neighboring Communities of Glen Oaks
North of Glen Oaks is Little Neck. To the south, you'll find the Queens neighborhoods of Bellerose and Floral Park. Further south are the Nassau County villages of Bellerose and Floral Park. East of Glen Oaks is North New Hyde Park, and south of that is the Village of New Hyde Park.
So, even though Glen Oaks shares names with some Nassau County villages in its postal addresses, it's not directly next to them. The old Long Island Motor Parkway used to run through this area. Today, parts of its route are now 74th Avenue and define the southern edge of the North Shore Towers complex.
Homes in Glen Oaks
Glen Oaks is mostly made up of garden apartments. Here are some of the main housing communities:
- Glen Oaks Village: This cooperative apartment complex was built in 1947. It stretches from Little Neck Parkway to 263rd Street, and from Royal Ranch to Union Turnpike. Another part of it is located between Commonwealth Boulevard and 249th Street.
- Parkwood Estates: Originally called Grand Central Apartments, this is another cooperative apartment complex north of Little Neck Parkway.
- North Shore Towers: Built in the mid-1970s, this is a private complex with tall apartment buildings and a country club.
- Royal Ranch: Started around 1951, this community is mostly made up of single-family homes and is on the same hill as the North Shore Towers.
Fun and Recreation in Glen Oaks
Glen Oaks Oval
The Glen Oaks Oval is a 3-acre park located at 260th Street and 74th Avenue. It's shaped like an oval, which is how it got its common name. The park is home to the Glen Oaks Little League and also has a playground and exercise equipment. It was officially renamed The Oval in 2010.
Queens County Farm Museum
There's also a 2-acre playground at Little Neck Parkway and 72nd Avenue, right next to P.S. 186. South of the playground, you'll find the Queens County Farm Museum. This large, 47.7-acre farm helps recreate what the county was like when it was mostly farmland. It has farm animals and old farming equipment, offering a glimpse into the past.
Healthcare in Glen Oaks
The Long Island Jewish Medical Center is a large hospital located in Glen Oaks. It has 548 beds and covers 48 acres, making it one of the biggest medical centers on Long Island.
On December 14, 2020, a critical care nurse from Glen Oaks named Sandra Lindsay made history. She was the first person in the United States to receive the Coronavirus Vaccine.
Learning in Glen Oaks: Schools and Library
Schools in Glen Oaks
Glen Oaks has two public elementary schools (grades K-5): P.S. 186 and P.S. 115. After elementary school, students usually go to M.S. 172 for middle school (grades 6-8). There's also a Roman Catholic school, Our Lady of the Snows, for students in grades K-8.
In 2004, a new public school campus called the Frank A. Padavan campus opened in western Glen Oaks. This campus includes The Queens High School of Teaching and two elementary/intermediate schools (grades K-8): P.S./I.S. 208 and P.S./I.S. 266. P.S./I.S. 266 accepts students from across District 26 through a lottery. Schools in District 26 are often ranked among the best in the New York City public school system.
It's interesting to note that some places with "Glen Oaks" in their name, like the Glen Oaks branch of the Queens Library or Glen Oaks School (P.S. 115), are actually located in the nearby Floral Park neighborhood. However, P.S. 186, which is in the center of Glen Oaks, is called Castlewood School.
Glen Oaks Library
The Glen Oaks branch of the Queens Public Library is located at 256-04 Union Turnpike. The current building was designed by architects Scott Marble and Karen Fairbanks and opened in 2013. It replaced the old library and is twice as big. The new library has won many awards for its design.
Getting Around Glen Oaks: Transportation
Buses and Major Roads
Local buses like the Q36, Q46 and express buses like the QM5, QM6, QM8, QM35, QM36 serve the Glen Oaks area.
Several major roads also pass through or near the community:
- Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway)
- Grand Central Parkway
- Cross Island Parkway
- Union Turnpike
- Little Neck Parkway
You can also find bike lanes along parts of 260th Street, 74th Avenue, and 82nd Avenue.
Train Access
For those who commute, the Long Island Rail Road is an option. Residents can drive to the New Hyde Park or Floral Park train stations. These trains offer direct connections to Penn Station and Grand Central in Manhattan.
Famous People from Glen Oaks
- Karl Ehrhardt (1924–2008): Known as the "Sign Man," he was a very visible fan of the New York Mets baseball team and an icon at Shea Stadium for many years.
- Martin Lang (born 1949): An Olympic fencer.
- Frank Wilczek (born 1951): A theoretical physicist and mathematician who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004.
