Kew Gardens is on the southwest part of Queens and is bordered by Briarwood to the east, Richmond Hill to the south, the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the north, and Forest Park to the west. Kew Gardens was one of the planned garden communities built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This area was purchased along with the flatter parts of New York that were developed into Hollis Hill and several other low-lying neighborhoods. It was not developed until the 1920s when the first apartment buildings were built and the railroad station was opened. When the Grand Central Parkway opened for Kew Gardens the area grew rapidly.
The unique situation of this neighborhood between two large parks means that this is a quieter and more natural area than most of Queens. This is a primarily residential neighborhood with some small restaurants scattered throughout and some businesses clustered on Metropolitan Avenue.
North of Kew Gardens, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park has two large lakes for you to explore with your dog. While the most northernly lake is surrounded by golf course, the lower lake is surrounded by natural wilderness and shorelines.