Free 5K Runs in New York City Parks: Staten Island and Queens

Free 5K runs in two outer-borough parks

NYC Parks lists free weekly NYRR Open Run 5Ks at Conference House Park in Staten Island and Cunningham Park in Queens for 18 October 2026. The listings describe the series as community-led and open to walkers and runners of all ages, abilities and experience levels. The runs are listed as free. NYC Parks says the program runs in neighborhood parks across the greater New York City area, so these are part of a weekly series rather than one-off races. Conference House Park sits at the southernmost point of New York state and contains four historic buildings that trace Staten Island's history, according to NYC Parks. The park listing says those buildings cover more than 300 years of Staten Island history. Cunningham Park is one of Queens' largest parks, built between 1928 and 1944, with a large tennis facility and nature activities.

A Staten Island art stop

The Proximity Exhibition at Snug Harbor is another listing for 18 October 2026. It features artists from Snug Harbor's studio program and looks at the studio as a shared working space. The exhibition is at Snug Harbor, not at Conference House Park, so treat it as a separate stop. If you are not a runner, the listing says walkers are welcome, so a 5K walk is an option. The two runs are in different boroughs on the same date, so pick one rather than trying to fit both into the day. Use the NYC Parks pages for the start point and any last-minute changes. For travelers based in Manhattan, these are outer-borough outings that need a proper time block, not a quick stop between Midtown attractions.