In a blow to Queens’ vibrant dragon-boating community, NYC Parks has announced that the temporary docks at Flushing Bay’s World’s Fair Marina, a hub for the centuries-old sport, will close indefinitely starting in May 2025.
Dragon-boating, an ancient Chinese team sport featuring large canoe-like boats adorned with dragon heads, has been a cherished tradition at Pier 1 in the World’s Fair Marina for decades.
In 2016, NYC Parks closed the 88-year-old wooden Pier 1 due to extensive deterioration, replacing it with temporary floating docks to ensure dragon-boating teams could continue accessing Flushing Bay. For eight years, these temporary docks served as a lifeline for approximately 20 dragon-boating clubs and 60 teams.
However, in November 2024, NYC Parks shut down the floating docks, citing public safety concerns after further structural damage to the adjacent wooden pier. The announcement dealt a significant blow to the dragon-boating community, which has long seen Flushing Bay as a vital space for their sport.
Judd Faulkner, a spokesperson for NYC Parks, said the department remains committed to providing safe, dedicated dockage space with accessible dock fees for recreational boaters throughout Queens and New York City.
“Parks has provided boaters with a list of 36 alternative marinas in the area, and we understand that many boaters, including some of the dragon boat teams, have made dockage arrangements at several of these sites,” Faulkner said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the boating community as we restore the popular World’s Fair Marina to ensure it will continue to serve generations of boaters to come.”
Despite these reassurances, boaters were officially informed in November that the temporary docks would be inaccessible after April 30, 2025. NYC Parks officials also disclosed that while $22 million in City Capital funding and FEMA Construction Funding has been allocated for redeveloping Pier 1, the project remains in the design phase. No money has been spent, and a timeline for completion has not been established. According to the New York Post, the Mayor’s Office of Management & Budget estimates that Pier 1’s redevelopment may not be realized until the 2030s.
For the dragon-boating community, the uncertain future has fueled frustration and concern. Greg Chang, a paddler who trained at Flushing Bay, told THE CITY that the community fears it could take decades for the sport to return to its longstanding home. He also expressed worries that the marina’s closure could pave the way for developers to occupy the now-vacant space.
“We need to be here, and we plan on pursuing all possible avenues to remain here,” Chang told THE CITY.
Some dragon-boaters are exploring alternative options, with several planning to relocate to Meadow Lake in nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Meadow Lake is already home to dragon-boating and will host the 34th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in August. Organizers confirmed that the popular two-day event will not be affected by the closure of the World’s Fair Marina.
