# Nature for kids in Queens (16) > 16 parks and nature spots for kids in Queens, 14 free. Parks, gardens, farms, beaches. Includes Alley Pond Environmental Center and Jamaica Bay Wildlife… URL: https://littlegotham.com/borough/queens/nature/ [Home](https://littlegotham.com/) / [Queens](https://littlegotham.com/borough/queens/) / Nature ## Nature for kids in Queens 16 parks and nature spots for kids in Queens, 14 free. Parks, gardens, farms, beaches. Includes Alley Pond Environmental Center and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. [Filter & map these](https://littlegotham.com/explore/?cat=nature&boro=Queens) 14 free 3 indoor ### Other boroughs [Nature in Manhattan](https://littlegotham.com/borough/manhattan/nature/) · [Nature in Brooklyn](https://littlegotham.com/borough/brooklyn/nature/) · [Nature in the Bronx](https://littlegotham.com/borough/bronx/nature/) · [Nature in Staten Island](https://littlegotham.com/borough/staten-island/nature/) · [All nature in NYC](https://littlegotham.com/category/nature/) ### By neighborhood [Flushing 2 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-flushing/) · [Kew Gardens 2 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-kew-gardens/) · [Douglaston 2 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-douglaston/) · [Bayside 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-bayside/) Forest Park 1 [Corona 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-corona/) · [Fresh Meadows 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-fresh-meadows/) · [South Jamaica 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-south-jamaica/) · [Rosedale 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-rosedale/) · [Long Island City 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-long-island-city/) · [Broad Channel 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-broad-channel/) · [Rockaway Park 1 ](https://littlegotham.com/neighborhood/queens-rockaway-park/) Rockaway 1 [Alley Pond Environmental Center](https://littlegotham.com/activity/alley-pond-environmental-center/): Douglaston Suggested $5 An environmental education center in Queens with resident animal ambassadors, nature trails through Alley Pond Park s wetlands and woods, and a big menu of classes. Toddler classes start before age 2, with weekend, homeschool and free programs for older kids. Ages 1–14 Daily Indoor [Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge](https://littlegotham.com/activity/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge/): Broad Channel Free National Park Service – Gateway National Recreation Area Over 12,000 acres of water, salt marsh and upland habitat in Jamaica Bay that form one of the Northeast s largest bird habitats. Families walk the pond trails from the visitor center to spot egrets, ospreys and migrating shorebirds. Ages 3–17 Mon, Fri–Sun Outdoor [Gantry Plaza State Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/gantry-plaza-state-park/): Long Island City Free NY State Parks A Long Island City waterfront park with restored gantry cranes, a tot lot playground, a fishing pier, mist fountain and famous views of the Manhattan skyline. All ages Outdoor [Alley Pond Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/alley-pond-park/): Douglaston Free NYC Parks A 635-acre Queens park stretching from Little Neck Bay to Union Turnpike with tidal wetlands, kettle ponds, old-growth trees and an adventure course. It s home to the Alley Pond Environmental Center and the Alley Pond Giant tulip tree. All ages Outdoor [Flushing Meadows Corona Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/flushing-meadows-corona-park/): Corona Free NYC Parks A huge Queens park built for two World s Fairs, home to the Unisphere, the Queens Zoo, a lake with boating, playgrounds and the Queens Museum and New York Hall of Science nearby. Wide paths are great for bikes and scooters. All ages Outdoor [Forest Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/forest-park/): Kew Gardens Free NYC Parks A 500-plus-acre Queens park dominated by one of the borough s biggest oak forests, with hiking and horse trails, the restored Strack Pond, playgrounds and a historic carousel. All ages Outdoor [Jacob Riis Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/jacob-riis-park/): Rockaway Free National Park Service A National Park Service beach on the Rockaway peninsula with a landmark Art Deco bathhouse, wide sands and ocean swimming in summer. All ages Outdoor [Kissena Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/kissena-park/): Flushing Free NYC Parks A 235-acre Queens park with Kissena Lake, a historic tree grove from a 19th-century nursery, a velodrome, playgrounds and nature trails. All ages Outdoor [Baisley Pond Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/baisley-pond-park/): South Jamaica Free NYC Parks A southeast Queens park centered on a large pond with a walking loop, playgrounds and ball fields. All ages Outdoor [Queens Botanical Garden](https://littlegotham.com/activity/queens-botanical-garden/): Flushing Kids $2 A 39-acre garden in Flushing with themed plantings, a bee garden and wide lawns that are easy for little legs. Families can join seasonal hands-on gardening programs for kids. All ages Tue–Sun Outdoor [Cunningham Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/cunningham-park/): Fresh Meadows Free NYC Parks A 358-acre Queens park with a forested southern section, a mountain bike trail network, ball fields and playgrounds. All ages Outdoor [Forest Park Visitor Center](https://littlegotham.com/activity/forest-park-visitor-center/): Kew Gardens Free NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers A ranger visitor center in Queens Forest Park, which holds one of the borough s largest continuous oak forests. Rangers use it for nature walks and family programs; the center opens by appointment. Ages 2–14 Indoor [Fort Totten Park Visitor Center](https://littlegotham.com/activity/fort-totten-park-visitor-center/): Bayside Free NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers A visitor center inside a former Army fort on Little Neck Bay where rangers run weekend environmental education programs. Kids can explore the old Civil War-era battery and the waterfront. Ages 2–14 Indoor [Rockaway Beach & Boardwalk](https://littlegotham.com/activity/rockaway-beach-boardwalk/): Rockaway Park Free NYC Parks Miles of Atlantic Ocean beach and boardwalk on the Rockaway peninsula, reachable by subway and ferry, with concessions, playgrounds and surf zones. Families find calmer bays for little kids and plenty of room for sandcastles. All ages Outdoor [Urban Park Rangers Family Programs – Queens](https://littlegotham.com/activity/urban-park-rangers-family-programs-queens/): Forest Park Free NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers Free ranger-led walks, wildlife watches and nature activities for families in Queens parks such as Forest Park and Fort Totten Park. Rangers teach kids to spot birds, identify trees, explore shorelines and learn outdoor skills, with seasonal events like wildlife festivals. Ages 3–17 Outdoor [Idlewild Park](https://littlegotham.com/activity/idlewild-park/): Rosedale Free NYC Parks A 180-acre southeast Queens park with salt marsh and forest near Jamaica Bay, offering nature trails and wildlife watching. All ages Outdoor ### Quick answers How many parks and nature spots for kids are there in Queens? LittleGotham lists 16 parks and nature spots for kids in Queens. Are there free parks and nature spots for kids in Queens? Yes. 14 of 16 are free to attend, including Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Alley Pond Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Which neighborhoods in Queens have the most parks and nature spots? Flushing (2), Kew Gardens (2), Douglaston (2). --- LittleGotham: things to do with kids in New York City. [Home](https://littlegotham.com/) · [Search](https://littlegotham.com/explore/) · [llms.txt](https://littlegotham.com/llms.txt) · [Sitemap](https://littlegotham.com/sitemap.xml) · [Open data (JSON)](https://littlegotham.com/data/activities.json)