Rego Park/Forest Hills Foodscape

About Foodscapes

Access to affordable and nutritious food is one of the cornerstones of good health. Without this, individuals—and communities—are at a higher risk of food insecurity and serious chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. To improve the health of New Yorkers, we must recognize that each neighborhood has a distinct food environment.

Purpose

These Foodscape reports provide a community-level snapshot of a community’s food environment, including data on healthy and unhealthy food consumption, food access, and diet-related diseases. Additionally, the reports detail a comprehensive guide of the many food-related resources available to residents within their neighborhoods to support them in eating healthier. The Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has compiled this information from various sources, presenting it in a user-friendly format to help NYC residents and communities better understand their local foodscapes.

*All data from Community Health Profiles includes Forest Hills, Forest Hills Gardens and Rego Park

Zip codes include: 11374, 11375

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• DEMOGRAPHICS
• NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD
• FOOD CONSUMPTION
• HEALTH AND DISEASE STATUS
• ECONOMIC AND LIVING-CONDITION STRESS, CONTRIBUTORS TO FOOD INSECURITY
• EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BURDEN
• SUMMER MEALS
• COMMUNITY GARDENS
• GREENTHUMB GARDENS
• SCHOOL GARDENS
• FARMERS’ MARKETS
• OFFICIAL SNAP ENROLLMENT SITES IN NYC – HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
• FOOD PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS
• RETAIL FOOD STORES
• ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

DEMOGRAPHICS:

• Total Population: 115,119 (1.35% of NYC population) (1)
• Population by Race and Ethnicity of Rego Park/Forest Hills and New York City (1)
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 14% Latino | NYC: 29% Latino
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 3% Black | NYC: 22% Black
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 51% White | NYC: 32% White
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 30% Asian/Pacific Islander | NYC: 15% Asian
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 2% Other | NYC: 2% Other
• Rego Park/Forest Hills Population by Age: (1)
  • 0-17 years: 16%
  • 18-24 years: 5%
  • 25-44 years: 31%
  • 45-64 years: 28%
  • 65+ years: 19%
• Life Expectancy: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 85.7 years (2) | NYC: 81.2 years (3)
• Born Outside the US: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 50% (1) | NYC: 37% (1)

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD:

• Supermarket to Bodega Ratio: One (1) supermarket in Rego Park/Forest Hills to 5 bodegas (1)
• Meal Gap (# of meals needed per year for food security): 2,240,495 (2)
• Food Insecurity: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 10.1% of residents (2)| NYC: 15.4% of residents (2)
• Residences that Lack a Kitchen: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 0.7% of housing units (2)| NYC: 0.8% (2)
• Households Receiving SNAP Benefits: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 9.9% of households (2)| NYC: 21% of households (2)
• Walking Distance to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: (4)
  • Includes data from Ridgewood/Forest Hills (Zipcodes 11374, 11375, 11379, 11385)
    • 5 minutes or less: 53% (Compared to 49% New York City-wide)
    • 5-10 minutes: 17% (Compared to 18% New York City-wide)
    • 10 minutes or more: 29% (Compared to 32% New York City-wide)

FOOD CONSUMPTION:

• At Least One Serving of Fruits or Vegetables Per Day (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 93% (1) | NYC: 87% (1)
• No Fruits and Vegetables Yesterday: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 7% of adults (2) | NYC: 13% of adults (2)
• One or More 12-ounce Sugary Drinks Per Day (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 18% (1) | NYC: 23% (1)

HEALTH AND DISEASE STATUS:

• Adults Reporting Their Own Health as “Excellent,” “Very Good” or “Good” (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 82% (1) | NYC: 78% (1)
• Obesity (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 19% (1) | NYC: 24% (1)
•  Childhood Obesity (percent of public school children in grades K through 8): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 11% (1) | NYC: 20% (1)
• Diabetes (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 7% (1) | NYC: 11% (1)
• Hypertension (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 28% (1) | NYC: 28% (1)

ECONOMIC AND LIVING-CONDITION STRESS, CONTRIBUTORS TO FOOD INSECURITY:

• Median Household Income: 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: $93,882 (2) | NYC: $73,277 (2)
• Poverty (percent of households with incomes below poverty): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 11% (2) | NYC: 8.8% (2)
• Unemployment (percent of people ages 16 and older): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 3.1% (2) | NYC: 5% (2)
• Extreme Housing Burden (percent of renters): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 29.3% (2) | NYC: 28% (2)

EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BURDEN

• Air Pollution (micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 7.5 (1) | New York City-wide: 7.5 (1)
• Bicycle Network Coverage (percent of streets with bike lanes): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 0% (1) | New York City-wide: 10% (1)
• Pedestrian Injury Hospitalizations (per 100,000 people): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 13 (1) | New York City-wide: 23 (1)
• Any Physical Activity in the Past 30 Days (percent of adults): 
  • Rego Park/Forest Hills: 68% (1) | New York City-wide: 73% (1)

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS SUMMER MEALS: 

To ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals, the Department of Education’s Meal Hubs were created in response to COVID-19 and have expanded service to all children and adults across the five boroughs. Sites serve grab-and-go meal service for adults and children and no one is turned away. No registration or identification is required.

During the summer of 2020, over 400 Meal Hubs operated from 7:30am-11:30am for children and families and 11:30am-1:30pm for adults. Starting September 29, 200 Meal Hubs continue to provide grab-and-go meal service for all New Yorkers on Monday-Friday between 3-5pm.

Please check the DOE website for updates and search for Free Meals at the select public school buildings here or text “NYCFOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877.

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS COMMUNITY GARDENS: 

• Forest Hills Community Garden: Forest Hills High School, Grand Central Parkway

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS GREENTHUMB GARDENS:

There are over 600 GreenThumb community gardens across the city, and any resident can join a garden. Find the most up-to-date list of gardens using GreenThumb’s searchable Garden Map. (5)  

• Project Eden: 67-2 Kessel St

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS SCHOOL GARDENS:

• PS 233 [email protected]: 91-30 Metropolitan Ave

• HS 440 Forest Hills High School: 67-01 110th St
• PS 220 Edward Mandel: 62-10 108th St
• PS 206 The Horace Harding School: 61-02 98th St
• MS 190 Russell Sage: 68-17 Austin St
• PS 174 William Sidney Mount: 65-10 Dieterle Crescent
• MS/HS 167 Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School: 91-30 Metropolitan Ave
• JHS 157 Stephen A. Halsey: 63-55 102nd St
• PS 196 Grand Central Parkway: 71-25 113th St
• PS 101 School in the Gardens: 2 Russell Place
• PS 303 The Academy for Excellence through the Arts: 108-55 69th Ave
• PS 175 The Lynn Gross Discovery School: 64-35 102nd St

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS FARMERS’ MARKETS: 

To ensure the below farmers’ markets are open, please call or check the listed websites for the most up-to-date information.

• Forest Hills Greenmarket
  106-28 Queens Blvd, Sunday 08:00AM-02:00PM, Year-Round

Many farmers’ markets accept cash, SNAP/EBT, debit/credit, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons. They may also offer Health Bucks for EBT users — for every $5 spent in EBT, customers receive a $2 Health Buck coupon to purchase additional fruits and vegetables. For an updated list of farmers’ markets near you (including days/hours of operation) visit nyc.gov/health and search “farmers markets” or text “SoGood” to 877-877.

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS OFFICIAL SNAP ENROLLMENT SITES IN NYC – HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION (HRA):

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

• East New York S28: 404 Pine St, 1st Floor
• Rockaway S79: 219 Beach 59th St, 1st Floor
• Queens S53: 32-20 Northern Blvd, 2nd Floor
• Jamaica S54: 165-08 88th Ave, 3rd Floor

*It is possible to apply for SNAP benefits online at https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-snap

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS:

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

• Masbia of Queens - Soup Kitchen
  105-47 64 Rd, 11375, (347) 206-8224
• Forest Hills Seniors Center
  108-25 62nd Dr, 11375, (718) 699-1010
• Young Israel of Forest Hills
  68-07 Burns St, 11375, (718) 268-7100
• Central Queens Y/Esther Grunblatt Russian Service Center
  108-13 67th Rd, 11375, (718) 268-5011x433
• Educational Center For Russian Jewry - Ohr Natan
  98-12 66th Ave, 11374, (718) 997-1310
• Masbia of Queens - Food Pantry
  105-47 64 Rd, 11375, (718) 972-4446
• Masbia of Rego Park
  98-08 Queens Blvd, , (718) 972-4446
• Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, Our Lady of the Angelus
  63-63 98th St, 11374, (718) 722-6001, (347) 957-2450
• Queens Jewish Community Council
  119-45 Union Tpke, 11375, (718) 544-9033
• Beth Gavriel Shaare Zion
  66-35 108th St, 11375, (718) 268-7558

*Food pantry and soup kitchen hours subject to change, and requirements may be needed to register for food pantries. Call a specific location for more information before going for the first time. 

REGO PARK/FOREST HILLS RETAIL FOOD STORES:

*This list below includes all retail food stores from a Google Maps Places API search with keyword search terms “bakery, cafe, convenience store, deli, food, grocery, supermarket.” 

Data is updated on a continuous basis in collaboration with the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center’s Neighborhood Food Resource Guides.

• Sakura-Ya Japanese Mart
  73-05 Austin St 11375, (718) 268-7220
• Ottos Deli
  6318 Woodhaven Blvd 11374,
• Natural Fruits & Vegetables Family Fruit Farm
  6361 Booth St 11374,
• Stop & Go Deli Convenience
  Metropolitan Ave 11375, (718) 263-3502
• Foodtown of Forest Hills
  110-44 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 544-5656
• Sunoco Gas Station
  100 16-20 Metropolitan Ave 11375, (718) 263-7771
• Knish Nosh
  98-104 Queens Blvd 11374, (718) 897-5554
• La Boulangerie
  109-01 72nd Rd 11375, (347) 644-5606
• Country Boy Farm Market
  96-50 Queens Blvd 11374,
• Foodtown of Rego Park
  97-36 63rd Rd 11374, (718) 896-4300
• CVS
  108-7 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 544-4585
• J & J Super Star Deli
  6249 Woodhaven Blvd 11374, (718) 779-0300
• Netcost Market
  97-10 Queens Blvd 11374, (718) 459-4400
• Key Food Supermarkets
  92-02 63rd Dr 11374, (718) 275-6913
• Walgreens
  10425 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 896-7901
• Trader Joe's
  9030 Metropolitan Ave 11374, (718) 275-1791
• 7-Eleven
  10740 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 575-4130
• Key Food Supermarkets
  105-35 64th Rd 11375, (718) 997-6252
• Continental Lunchonette & Deli
  10403 Metropolitan Ave 11375, (718) 520-8336
• Fruit Ranch
  100-14 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 896-4191
• Duane Reade
  10716 71st Ave 11375, (718) 793-2905
• Redwood Deli
  118-18 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 261-9326
• Austin Farm
  67-25 Austin St 11375, (718) 897-8400
• Natural Market
  7256 Austin St 11375, (718) 268-4477
• I & R Kosher Grocery Inc
  65-47 99th St 11374,
• Carmel Grocery
  64-27 108th St 11375, (718) 897-9296
• 7-Eleven
  97-07 Queens Blvd 11374, (718) 275-2079
• Fresh Value Marketplace
  9507 63rd Dr 11374, (718) 997-8900
• Bethel Farm
  63-28 108th St 11375, (718) 897-3977
• Key Food Supermarkets
  116-34 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 793-8639
• Rego Park Deli Grocery Inc
  9258 Queens Blvd 11374,
• CVS
  100 02 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 520-2334
• CTown Supermarkets
  7248 Austin St 11375, (718) 261-8750
• Key Food Supermarkets
  108-27 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 268-8343
• Elly's Place (Sunrise Market)
  100-31 Metropolitan Ave 11375, (718) 869-6161
• CVS
  118-10 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 520-4530
• CVS
  97 15 Metropolitan Ave 11375, (718) 261-1647
• Halal Meat
  64-46 108th St 11375,
• Rego Fresh Marketplace
  63-76 Woodhaven Blvd 11374, (718) 326-8800
• Express Deli
  10119 Queens Blvd #B 11375, (718) 275-2062
• Nagilah Market
  6369 108th St 11375, (718) 268-2626
• World Fruit Farm
  92-1 63rd Dr 11374,
• Howard News 24 Hour Deli
  97-15 Queens Blvd 11374, (718) 897-7679
• ALDI
  61-11 Junction Blvd 11374, (855) 955-2534
• Tikvah Super Glatt Kosher Mini Market
  10543 64th Rd 11375,
• Pasticceria Amore
  107-06 71st Rd 11375, (718) 261-1349
• Shanvi Convenience & Grocery
  111-09 Queens Blvd 11375, (718) 896-4475
• Rite Aid
  95-14 63rd Dr 11374, (718) 896-5084
• K Food Market Groceries,Beer & Meat
  92-32 Queens Blvd 11374, (718) 406-9455
• Haven Deli
  6228 Woodhaven Blvd 11374, (718) 397-7261
• Vitelio's Marketplace
  7176 Yellowstone Blvd 11375, (718) 261-7505
• CVS
  97-10 63rd Rd 11374, (718) 896-2484
• K-Food Market
  92-58 Queens Blvd 11374, (347) 639-0556

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Coronavirus NYC Food Resource Guide: Rego Park/Forest Hills
• Commonpoint Queens
• Rego Park Library
• Queens Community House
• Child Center of NY

Last updated: 9/29/2020

REFERENCES:

1. 1. Hinterland, K, et al. “Community Health Profiles 2018, Queens Community District 6: Rego park and Forest Hills.” Community Health Profiles 2018, Queens Community District 6: Rego Park and Forest Hills, 2018, pp. 1–20.
   2. “Data2Go: Forest Hills & Rego Park.” data2go.Nyc, Measure of America of the Social Science Research Council and Helmsley Charitable Trust, https://data2go.nyc/map/?id=111*36047015900*meal_gap_puma!undefined!ns*!other_pop_cd_506~ahdi_puma_1~sch_enrol_cd_112~age_pyramid_male_85_plus_cd_20~median_household_income_puma_397~median_personal_earnings_puma_400~dis_y_perc_puma_102~poverty_ceo_cd_417~unemployment_cd_408~pre_k_cd_107!*air_qual_cd~ahdi_puma*family_homeless_cd_245#12/40.8086/-73.9294.
   3. “Annual Vital Statistics Data Show Fewer Premature Deaths and Fewer Births in New York City in 2017.” NYC Health, The City of New York.
   4. “A Foodscape of Ridgewood/Forest Hills.” New York City Food Policy Center at Hunter College, Mar. 2017, https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FS405_2017.pdf.
   5. “Green Thumb Garden Map.” NYC Parks, https://greenthumb.nycgovparks.org/gardensearch.php. 

Article Image: “New York City (NYC) Neighborhood Maps – By Borough – Queens.” NYCdata, Baruch College Zicklin School of Business, https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/population-geography/maps-boroughs.htm.