Found 18 blog entries tagged as parks.

These blistering July days call for sun, surf, and sand! Fortunately, Staten Island doesn't get its name for no reason. Richmond County, completely surrounded by water, is home to these stunning, yet different beaches:

South Beach

South Beach is the perfect mix of chill beach vibes, and boardwalk fun. It is located in the Eastern shore of the island, very accessible via car, bus (s51 or s52) or walking. The beach is around 2 miles long, which mean there's always a place to lay your towel! The boardwalk, officially the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk, stretches 2.5 miles, from Fort Wadsworth to Miller's Field. It was built in 1935, under the guidance of the Works Progress Administration, and once boasted the bustling Happy Land Amusement. With this…

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Tucked away in the heart of our borough, lie 164 acres of grassy, scenic land, known as Willowbrook Park. This park is one of Richmond County’s many Greenbelt Conservation lands, containing protected space for wildlife, along with various recreational areas and activities. It is located in New Springville, only minutes away from the Staten Island Mall. Yet, this park still manages to feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Richmond Avenue, giving Staten Islanders and visitors a chance to escape into nature.

More on New Springville

Almost 4 centuries later, New Springville has remained a highly sought after neighborhood. In addition to Willowbrook Park, other small greenlands, give the area a quaint, calm feel. It offers a wide array of retail,…

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Edgewater Village Hall was built in 1889, designed by local architect Paul Kuhne. Edgewater Village Hall is located at 111 Canal Street, in Tappen Park, Stapleton.  This hall is occupied by offices such as District Attorney, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. When it was first built it was considered one of Staten Islands finest buildings! This hall is all red brick with stone trimmings and was built Romanesque Revival Style. There is a square tower at the main entrance and the building itself is T-shaped with beautiful arched windows. Edgewater Village Hall became an official landmark in New York City in the year 1968! Feel free to take a relaxing stroll in Tappen Park for a closer look! 

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Known as the "greenest borough," Staten Island has more than 12,300 acres of protected parkland and is home to over 170 parks. With this great number and variety, our parks can't be beat! These parks provide a plethora of recreational activities to satisfy both the adventurer and the easy-going.

Reeds Basket Willow Swamp Park

This hidden park located in the heart of Todt Hill, on Ocean Terrace, consist of 55 acres of remarkable parkland and three bodies of water. To most, this park is unknown, however there are hiking trails perfect for taking a stroll and exploring the nature. Primarily, one can find red and white oaks, hickories, tulip and beech trees, sweet gum, and red maples. After the park was excavated for a gas pipeline about 40 years ago,…

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Newly renovated Westerleigh Park has been on the up and up lately. Westerleigh Improvement Society and Friends of Westerleigh Park teamed up to bring the beautiful neighborhood of Westerleigh a fun and eventful summer for all families. 

June 14 - Fitness Mobile    12-2PM June 21 - Make Music New York    3-9PM *June 22 - Patriotic Sunday In The Park    2-4PM July 1 - Puppet Mobile    12-12:30PM July 8 - Art In The Park    10AM-12PM July 15 - Art In The Park    10AM-12PM July 17 - Starlight Concert July 22 - Fitness Mobile    12-2PM July 29 - Skating In The Park    12-2PM Aug 8 - Army National Guard Band    7-9PM Aug 29 - Movie In The Park    TBA Sept 3 - Wag Your Tail Social    8-10PM Sept 13 - Westerleigh Park…

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Shooters Island, Courtesy of Jim.henderson

Originally a hunting preserve, George Washington turned Shooter’s Island became "a drop-off point for messages, and the place became a haven for spies" during the Revolutionary War. After the War, the island picked up industrial traffic that included storage and shipping companies.

During World War I, industries and companies that occupied the island decided to produce sensible means regarding the war. Following WWI, the manufacturing of steel cargo ships stopped, and the island became a dump for damaged vessels. In the 1960s, a local politician wanted to decimate Shooter’s Island to make ship navigation easier.

However, the proposal never passed and with the help of the Clean Water Act of…

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In 1907, Moritz and Elsa Glauber owned 35-acres of land. That land now consists of Sports Park, Toad Hall Playground, and Todt Hill Houses. The City obtained the property in 1958, as well as the Clove Lakes Expressway. 

"In February 1991, Parks signed a license agreement with Eagle Recreation Management for the construction and operation of a miniature golf course, batting cage, snack bar, and pro shop for a 10-year term. Playworld USA, Inc. temporarily operated the facility from the beginning of May 1998, to the very end of December 1998. The concessionaire is Staten Island Hockey. Under the terms of their contract, signed the following year, Staten Island Hockey refurbished the miniature golf course, installed new battings cage equipment, improved…

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The original Silver Lake was known as Fresh Pond, up until 1860. During the 19th century, a casino and saloon once existed on the property and several companies harvested ice. The lake's body of water was used for boating and ice skating. In February 1897, Silver Lake hosted the National Skating Amateur Championship races.

When the population was growing, Silver Lake Park was created for families and their children to have recreational grounds to play on. 

As ice harvesting became old news, the lake was drained and converted to a working reservoir by the Board of Water Supply in 1913. Less than five years later, Silver Lake Reservoir became the endpoint of the city’s Catskill water supply system. 

Facilities  
Baseball Fields …

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Veterans Park is the oldest park on Staten Island. First mapped in 1836; thirty years later, the town became known as Port Richmond. In 1898, this open area was named Port Richmond Park.

In the 1920s, a police booth was built in the park courtesy of the Police Department and Parks. In 1949, the park was renamed by local law as a tribute to American veterans. Once an iron fenced property, it is now open for the public.

A granite water fountain stands in the Park as a monument honoring Eugene G. Putnam in 1915. Putnam was the school principal of P.S. 20 for over 15 years. 

The Park has a second monument; a bolder with a plaque comemorating  John Sullivan is located on the Park Avenue side. In the summer of 1777, he was an American Revolutionary War…

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Like White Playground, Von Briesen Park is located in Shore Acres near Fort Wadsworth. The park is on the property of Arthur Von Briesen, a German immigrant who later served in the Civil War. 

Von Briesen purchased this land in 1901; he named it “Gernda”, translating to “wishing to be there” in German. The property was originally an orchard and greenhouse and Von Briesen maintained it during his residency.

Facilities  
Dog-friendly park  

Von Briesen passed away in 1920 but his property wasn't donated to the Parks Department until 1949.  It was then that the home was demolished by the Parks Comissioner.  The park wasn't open to the public until 1949, no recreational facilities were added, City of New York Parks &…

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