Rego Park, Queens, NY
About Rego Park, Queens
Rego Park is a residential and commercial area in Central Queens. The neighborhood is bounded by the Long Island Expressway, Woodhaven Boulevard, Queens Boulevard and Yellowstone Boulevard. It’s bordered by Elmhurst and Corona to the North, Forrest Hills to the South and East and Middle Village to the West.
Rego Park is known as a quiet, suburban neighborhood with several shopping malls and commercial centers. There is a large Jewish and Eastern European population in the neighborhood and much of the local culture has been shaped by these communities. It’s a middle and upper-middle class neighborhood that offers a plethora of transportation options, good schools and tons of shopping.
History of Rego Park
The area that is now Rego Park was once a swampland called Hempstead Swamp. The swamp proved to be great for farming and was cultivated by the English, Dutch and German settlers who lived in the area. The area was largely rural farmland until 1925, when it was developed by the Real Good Construction company (Rego is a portmanteau of the company name). Stores and residential homes quickly popped up in the neighborhood soon thereafter. Following the Holocaust, the neighborhood became a refuge for Jewish immigrants from Western Europe. This exodus was followed by a similar wave of migration of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union and Central Asia. Today, it’s a multi-ethnic community of middle and upper middle-class families who have blended their native ethnic traditions with American values.
Demographics of Rego Park
There are approximately 44,000 people who live in Rego Park. It’s a diverse neighborhood that is home to a number of ethnic enclaves. Forty-four percent of residents identify as white, 32% of residents identify as Asian and 16% identify as Hispanic. Within those groups, there are communities of Uzbek, Tajikistani, Albanian, Romanian, Columbian, Peruvian South Asian and South Korean communities as well. It tends to be an older population, as 36% of residents are over the age of 55. However, there are many families also and 15% of the population is under 15%. The median household income is approximately $67,000 per year.
Transportation in Rego Park
Residents of Rego Park can utilize many transportation options. The E, M and R trains all make stops at the 63rd Drive and 67th Avenue stations. The Q38, Q59, Q60, QM10 and QM11 trains also make stops in Rego Park. The LIRR makes a stop in the nearby Forest Hills, which is easily accessible to Rego Park residents. Plus, Rego Park is a driving community and several major thoroughfares, like the Long Island Expressway and Queens Boulevard run through Rego Park.
Housing in Rego Park
There are a variety of different housing options available to residents of Rego Park. Residential housing ranges from large, multi-family apartment buildings, railroad houses, and Tudor style detached homes. Apartment complexes are more common in the northern part of the neighborhood, whereas detached homes are more common in the Southern part of the neighborhood. There are several notable complexes including The Carol House, Savoy Gardens and LeFrak City, a 20-building self-contained complex that sits between Rego Park, Elmhurst and Corona. Many streets in Rego Park resemble a quiet, suburban neighborhood in New Jersey or Westchester. Tudor and colonial style homes are prevalent along the tree-lined blocks of the district.
Neighborhood Life in Rego Park
Rego Park is a quiet, suburban enclave. Residents are known to hang out at local bakeries and bars or spend the day at the various shopping malls in the area. Austin Street is a major commercial area that features tons of great local shops and restaurants. Residents are known to frequent Flushing-Meadows-Corona Park, which is nearby. There isn’t a hip nightlife scene or upscale shopping district in Rego Park. However residents are more than willing to sacrifice that for the solitude and peace of mind the neighborhood offers.
Similar Neighborhoods to Rego Park, Queens
Real Estate Trends in Rego Park
The median home price in Rego Park is around $370,000, which is a steal in New York City. It’s far enough away from Manhattan that commuters typically don’t make it that far out, so it’s shielded from the gentrification other outer borough neighborhoods have experienced. Property values have increased steadily by almost 50% over the past five years, making Rego Park a great place to buy. Property values will likely continue this upward trajectory without skyrocketing, so it’s the perfect place for young professionals or families looking to buy their first home.
The Truth You Should Know About Rego Park, Queens
Is Rego Park Safe?
Yes, Rego Park and the surrounding neighborhoods are among the safest in the city. The area is patrolled by the 112th Precinct of the NYPD. Violent crime is almost non-existent in the neighborhood and the police in the area have reported a steep drop off in all crime since the 1990’s. Rego Park is a secluded area with little to attract criminals. It’s a great neighborhood to live in, but there isn’t enough concentrated wealth to attract robberies or other property crime.
Are the Schools in Rego Park Good?
Yes, the schools in Rego Park are very highly rated. For elementary school students may attend PS 174 William Sidney Mount, PS 139 Rego Park or the PS 206 The Horace Harding School. For middle school, students in Rego Park may attend JHS 157 Stephen Halsey or JHS 190 Russell Sage in Forest Hills. There are no high schools directly located in Rego Park, but students may apply to any high school in the NYC public school system.
Popular Eateries in Rego Park
Things to Do in Rego Park
Go shopping at the Rego Center, one of the few actual shopping malls in NYC
Head over to the nearby Flushing-Meadows-Corona Park, which features green space playgrounds and City field, where the Mets play
Sample some Russian or Uzbek pastries from Netcost Market on Queens Blvd
Visit the New York Hall of Science or the Queens Museum
Is Rego Park Dog-friendly?
Yes, for the most part, Rego Park is a good neighborhood for dogs. Those who live in a tudor style or Victorian home with a backyard will have no problem. Some of the larger apartment complexes may have stricter rules and greenspace in the neighborhood is fairly limited. Those willing to take the trek to Flushing-Meadows Corona Park will find plenty of recreational and exercise activities for canine companions. It’s a secluded, suburban neighborhood which means it’s great for pets, as long as the owner has ample space for pups to run around.
Is Rego Park Good for Cyclists?
It’s more of a driving community, but cyclists will not feel out of place. The quiet tree lined blocks are great for taking a bike ride on a summer afternoon or fall morning. It’s a very spacious neighborhood and traveling within the borough can be somewhat difficult without a car- so biking provides residents with an alternative. Bike lanes are present on major thoroughfares but not as much on side streets. Cyclists must be careful not to disturb pedestrian traffic, but otherwise they will be fine in Rego Park.
3 Things to Know Before moving to Rego Park, , Queens
Some areas of the neighborhood have a distinct former-Soviet feel and many of the businesses feature Cyrillic writing.
Rego Park is known for being a suburb within the city. Those looking for the hustle and bustle for which NYC is known should look elsewhere.
There are several streets known as the Crescents that feature Tudor style single family homes. This area is highly desirable and features pricier homes than other parts of the neighborhood.