Fun Run and Family Day to Celebrate Floyd Bennett Field’s Past & Future

Floyd Bennett Field, the first municipal airport of New York City, was once the site of record-breaking flights during the golden age of aviation. Today it is a 1,300-acre park within Gateway National Recreation Area, our country’s fourth most visited national park site, that’s brimming with wide open spaces, grasslands, migratory birds, and picturesque shorelines on Jamaica Bay– the “jewel” of New York City.

On Saturday, May 3, join Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) for Run the Runways: Floyd Bennett Field’s Birthday Bash!, a two-mile fun run followed by an afternoon of activities for the whole family at 3159 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The afternoon will include picnicking (BYO picnic; there will be tables), a daytime DJ dance party, lawn games, photo opportunities (including with a surprise historic aviator!), and arts and crafts – including a giant group birthday card for Floyd Bennett Field and the opportunity for young aviators to make their own wings for “flight” across the Hangar Lawn.

Run the Runways is meant to celebrate the airfield’s dedication as a municipal airport in May 1931, history and recreational opportunities at the park, and spread awareness about revitalization of the park through the rehabilitation of historic airplane hangars 3 & 4 into a community space, workforce development center and tech accelerator focused on nature-based solutions.

Run the Runways will also provide a deeper look into the rich history and exciting future of Floyd Bennett Field. Free circuit shuttles will take participants from activities on Hangar Lawn to a scavenger hunt at Hangar B, which houses a beautifully curated aircraft collection covering 70 years of aviation history, with a focus on the glamorous era of early aviation when records were set and broken from Floyd Bennett Field. Volunteers from the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project (H.A.R.P.) will also be on hand to offer tours and answer questions.

Hangars 3 & 4, where a rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project is underway, will have its doors open for a sneak-peek of things to come – community programming and events, food and beverage service and other visitor amenities, and a workforce development and tech accelerator focused on nature-based solutions.

This free event for all ages is open to the public and takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The run starts at 11 a.m. and runners can pick up their bib starting at 10 a.m. Runner registration is required on Eventbrite. Use the QR code to sign up. Unregistered guests are welcome for all other activities.

JBRPC is hosting the event in partnership with the National Park Service, Rockaway Track Club, National Parks Conservation Association, Circuit, Runway Green, and Millennium Development.