Foodscape: Ridgewood/Maspeth

Ridgewood/Maspeth 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 Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village and Ridgewood 

*All data from DATA2GO includes Ridgewood, Glendale & Middle Village 

Zip codes include: 11378, 11379, 11385

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
• SCHOOL GARDENS
• FARMERS’ MARKETS
• OFFICIAL SNAP ENROLLMENT SITES IN NYC – HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
• FOOD PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS
• RETAIL FOOD STORES
• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

DEMOGRAPHICS:

• Total Population: 166,924 (1.96% of NYC population) (1)
• Population by Race and Ethnicity of Ridgewood/Maspeth and New York City (1)
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 36% Latino | NYC: 29% Latino
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 1% Black | NYC: 22% Black
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 52% White | NYC: 32% White
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 9% Asian/Pacific Islander | NYC: 15% Asian
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 1% Other | NYC: 2% Other
• Ridgewood/Maspeth Population by Age: (1)
  • 0-17 years: 22%
  • 18-24 years: 8%
  • 25-44 years: 31%
  • 45-64 years: 26%
  • 65+ years: 13%
• Life Expectancy: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 81.7 years (2) | NYC: 82.1 years (2)
• Born Outside the US: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 39% (1) | NYC: 37% (1)

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD:

• Supermarket to Bodega Ratio: One (1) supermarket in Ridgewood/Maspeth to 15 bodegas (1)
• Meal Gap (# of meals needed per year for food security): 2,929,390 (2)
• Food Insecurity: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 7.7% of residents (2)| NYC: 15.4% of residents (2)
• Residences that Lack a Kitchen: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 0.6% of housing units (2)| NYC: 0.8% (2)
• Households Receiving SNAP Benefits: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 8.4% of households (2)| NYC: 22.4% 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): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 92% (1) | NYC: 87% (1)
• No Fruits and Vegetables Yesterday: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 8% of adults (2) | NYC: 12.9% of adults (2)
• One or More 12-ounce Sugary Drinks Per Day (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 19% (1) | NYC: 23% (1)

HEALTH AND DISEASE STATUS:

• Adults Reporting Their Own Health as “Excellent,” “Very Good” or “Good” (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 78% (1) | NYC: 78% (1)
• Obesity (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 22% (1) | NYC: 24% (1)
•  Childhood Obesity (percent of public school children in grades K through 8): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 19% (1) | NYC: 20% (1)
• Diabetes (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 8% (1) | NYC: 11% (1)
• Hypertension (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 23% (1) | NYC: 28% (1)

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

• Median Household Income: 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: $73,644 (2) | NYC: $63,132 (2)
• Poverty (percent of households with incomes below poverty): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 10.4% (2) | NYC: 19.7% (2)
• Unemployment (percent of people ages 16 and older): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 3.3% (2) | NYC: 4.5% (2)
• Extreme Housing Burden (percent of renters): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 24.8% (2) | NYC: 29.5% (2)

EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BURDEN

• Air Pollution (micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 8.0 (1) | New York City-wide: 7.5 (1)
• Bicycle Network Coverage (percent of streets with bike lanes): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 10% (1) | New York City-wide: 10% (1)
• Pedestrian Injury Hospitalizations (per 100,000 people): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 16 (1) | New York City-wide: 23 (1)
• Any Physical Activity in the Past 30 Days (percent of adults): 
  • Ridgewood/Maspeth: 68% (1) | New York City-wide: 73% (1)

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH 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.

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH COMMUNITY GARDENS: 

• Ridgewood Community Garden: 54-33 Metropolitan Ave

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH SCHOOL GARDENS:

• PS 9 @ PS882: 58-74 57th St
• IS 93 Ridgewood: 66-56 Forest Ave
• PS 239 Ramon Suarez School: 17-15 Weirfield St
• PS 9 Walter Reed: 58-74 57th St
• PS 290 A.C.E. Academy for Scholars at the Geraldine Ferraro Campus: 55-20 Metropolitan Ave
• HS 485 Grover Cleveland High School: 21-27 Himrod St
• PS 305 Learners and Leaders: 378 Seneca Ave
• PS 153 Maspeth Elem: 60-02 60th Lane
• PS 68 Cambridge: 59-09 Saint Felix Ave

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH FARMERS’ MARKETS: 

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

• Ridgewood Youthmarket
  Cypress Ave bet Myrtle & Putnam Ave, Saturday 08:30AM-03:00PM, July 10 - November 20
• Ridgewood Farmstand
  Cypress Ave bet Myrtle & Putnam Ave, Saturday 08:30AM-03:00PM, July 10 - November 20

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.

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH 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

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH 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.

• Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal
  62-81 60th Pl, 11385, (718) 366-3360
• Hungry Monks - Community Meals Program
  867 Cypress Ave, 11385, (347) 592-5423
• Yeshua Worldwide Ministries Food Pantry
  79-11 Caldwell Ave, 11379, (347) 761-2268
• The Legacy Center
  71-02 Cypress Hills St, 11385, (718) 456-4852
• Salvation Army, Ridgewood Citadel Corps - Soup Kitchen
  69-23 Cypress Hills St, 11385, (718) 497-4356
• Ridgewood Presbyterian Church
  59-14 70th Ave, 11385, (718) 456-2000, (718) 456-1075
• Salvation Army, Ridgewood Citadel Corps - Food Pantry
  69-23 Cypress Hills St, 11385, (718) 497-4356
• Central Baptist Community Outreach
  260 Knickerbocker Ave, 11237,
• Agape Christian Center
  59-02 Summerfield St, 11385, (347) 423-6724
• Hungry Monks - Emergency Food Pantry Delivery
  , 11385, (347) 592-5423
• Hungry Monks - Saturday Food Outreach
  867 Cypress Ave, 11385, (347) 592-5423
• Community Alliance Initiative
  60-85 Myrtle Ave, 11385, (212) 786-2343
• Saints Church
  7102 Cypress Hills St, 11385, (917) 453-5880, (718) 386-8882

*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. 

RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH 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.

PARKS IN RIDGEWOOD/MASPETH:

To ensure the below businesses and organizations are open, please call or check the listed websites for the most up-to-date information.

• Pinocchio Playground: 75th St, 11385
• Frank Principe Park: 63rd St , 11378
• Mafera Park: 65th Pl, 11385
• Middle Village Playground: 78-38 68th Rd, 11379
• Rosemary's Playground: 751 Woodward Ave, 11385
• Highland Park: 375 Jamaica Ave, 11385
• Frontera Park: Brown Pl & 58th Ave, 11378
• Juniper Valley Park: 71-01 Juniper Blvd South, 11379
• Benninger Playground: 60-45 Madison St, 11385
• Forest Park: 80-30 Park Lane, 11385
• Evergreen Park: 60-09 Saint Felix Ave, 11385
• Grover Cleveland Playground: 3-96 Grandview Ave, 11385
• Peter Chahales Park: 69th St & 58th Ave, 11378
• "Uncle" Vito E. Maranzano Glendale Playground: 2869 Central Ave, 11385
• Reiff Playground: 59-11 Fresh Pond Rd, 11378
• Starr Playground: 210 Onderdonk Ave, 11385

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Coronavirus NYC Food Resource Guide: Ridgewood/Maspeth

Last updated: 3/9/2021

REFERENCES:

1. Hinterland, K, et al. “Community Health Profiles 2018, Queens Community District 5: Ridgewood and Maspeth.” Community Health Profiles 2018, Queens Community District 5: Ridgewood and Maspeth, 2018, pp.1-20.
2. “Data2Go: Ridgewood, Glendale & Middle Village.” data2go.Nyc, Measure of America of the Social Science Research Council and Helmsley Charitable Trust, https://data2go.nyc/cd/?id=405*36047015900*ahdi_puma!undefined!ns*!buttonHolder~other_pop_cd_506~ahdi_puma_1~life_expectancy_puma_562~sch_enrol_cd_112~high_cost_h_cd_216~working_poor_cd_421~unemployment_cd_408~age_pyramid_male_85_plus_cd_20~ex_high_cost_h_cd_historical_402~poverty_ceo_cd_417~bodega_supermarket_cd_148~median_household_income_puma_397~fruits_veggies_cd_164~median_personal_earnings_puma_400!*air_qual_cd~ahdi_puma*family_homeless_cd_245#13/40.7088/-73.8902
3. “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.
4. “Annual Vital Statistics Data Show Fewer Premature Deaths and Fewer Births in New York City in 2017.” NYC Health, The City of New York.
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.