Great Parks on Staten
Island:
Staten Island is the
Garden Spot of New York City, with more acres of parkland than
any other borough. Some of the City's most beautiful parks are
in Staten Island, with a rich diversity of woodlands and
wetlands, beaches and rocky hills, sites rich in natural beauty
and rich in the history of our nation and our city.
Where else can you enjoy a stay-cation, an enjoyable daytrip to
the delightful beach and boardwalk of South Beach or Midland
Beach, or to Tottenville, a quaint country town and the site of
the Conference House, where Benjamin Franklin conducted an
unsuccessful peace conference with the British to avoid the
Revolutionary War? Lemon Creek Park offers some of the best
birding in the region.
Make a weekend of it with a stay at the beautiful and reasonable
Hilton Garden Inn
http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=EWRSIGI
or Hampton Inn
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=NYCSIHX
Remember: A Staten Island stay-cation starts with a breathtaking
and free cruise on the world-famous Staten Island Ferry. This
green island also is convenient by car from anywhere in the
Tri-State Area.
 New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, a real fan of
Staten Island Parks, especially recommends:
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Conference House Park
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Lemon Creek Park
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South Beach
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Clove Lakes Park
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Historic Richmond Town
Click a number on the
map to get directions!
For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call 3-1-1.
Conference House Park
This 265-acre park offers breathtaking views of the Raritan Bay
and extended hiking and biking trails to take in the view. Visit
the four historic houses in the park (including its namesake,
the Conference House) where Ben Franklin met with English
leaders in a vain effort to head off the Revolutionary War. Our
Urban Park Rangers will take you time traveling through three
centuries of New York and Staten Island History. Or stop by the
"South Pole," which marks the southernmost point of New York
State.
7455 Hyland Blvd. - Take the x22 express bus from Manhattan
weekdays or the S59 (Richmond Ave.) or S78 Tottenville (Hylan
Blvd.) bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to Hylan Blvd.
and Craig Ave. Walk one block south to Conference House Park.
The Conference House is open for guided tours:
Friday - Sunday, 1-4 p.m. from the first weekend in April to
mid-December
Lemon Creek Park
Take a tour of the grounds of the Seguine Mansion with the Urban
Park Rangers, or walk the expansive lawns on your own to spy
some Purple Martin birds. Those who are adventurous enough can
visit the park’s red clay bluffs, which are the tallest
ocean-facing cliffs in New York State, or get a crash course in
canoeing with the Rangers.
Hylan Blvd. at Sharrott & Seguine Aves. - Take the x23 express
bus from Manhattan on weekdays or the S78 bus from the Staten
Island Ferry Terminal seven days a week.
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photos
courtesy of the New York City Department of Parks
and Recreation |
South Beach
Take in the amazing views of Staten Island’s own version of the
French Riviera or join the Urban Park Rangers to learn more
about beach ecology. You can play bocce; paddle a kayak or
canoe, or stroll down the FDR boardwalk to see the Fountain of
the Dolphins. End the day with some fresh seafood at South Fin
Grill, and a cool dessert at the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop.
Father Capodanno Blvd and Sand Lane - Take the x4, x5, x6, x7,
or x8 express buses from Manhattan on weekdays or the S51 bus
from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal seven days a week. Beaches
are less than a 10-minute drive from the Verrazano-Narrows
Bridge.
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photos
courtesy of the New York City Department of Parks
and Recreation |
Clove Lakes Park
Paddle across one of the lakes or ponds, or take a birding
nature walk with the Urban Park Rangers at this protected
"Forever Wild" site. Be sure to stop and take a look at one of
Staten Island's largest living things - a three hundred year-old
tulip tree. Pack a lunch to enjoy at one of our designated
barbecue sites, or take a seat at the romantic Clove Lake Cafe
to hear live music and dine while overlooking the water.
1150 Clove Road at Victory Blvd. - Take the x13 or x14 express
buses from Manhattan on weekdays. Seven days a week take the S61
or S62 bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal along Victory
Blvd, to Clove Rd to start at the "top" of the park. Or the S48
bus along Forest Ave to Clove Rd to start from the "bottom" of
the park.
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courtesy of the Staten Island Borough Presidents Office |
Historic Richmond Town
In the heart of Staten Island, Historic Richmond Town is a
remarkable living history village and museum complex that
encompasses 300 years of the history and culture of New York
City. Visit some of the 28 historic buildings dating from the
late 17th to the early 20th centuries, including the Voorlezer's
House, the nation's oldest schoolhouse. During the spring and
summer months, the village comes alive with the daily trades and
customs of old Richmond Town as costumed re-enactors fill its
farmhouses, trade shops, and the county courthouse.
441 Clarke Ave. - Take the x15 bus from Manhattan on weekdays or
the S74 bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to Richmond
Road and St. Patrick's Place seven days a week.
Hours for September through June:
Wednesday-Sunday: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday: Guided tours at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Guided tours at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Hours for July and August:
Wednesday - Friday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Open village -self-guided tours
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