21 parks and nature spots for kids on Staten Island, 18 free. Parks, gardens, farms, beaches. Includes Fort Wadsworth and Clove Lakes Park.
A historic military site at the Staten Island foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with a visitor center, fort ruins and views across the Narrows. Kids can explore old batteries and watch ships pass under the bridge.
The hub of Staten Island's 2,800-acre Greenbelt, with nature exhibits and trailheads into LaTourette Park's woods and wetlands. Families join guided hikes and nature programs or head out on the Blue Trail.
A 193-acre Staten Island park with a chain of lakes, rowboat rentals in season, woodland trails and a playground, right next to the Staten Island Zoo.
A former landfill on Staten Island being transformed into a park nearly three times the size of Central Park. North Park, Schmul Park and the New Springville Greenway are open, and families can explore the interior grasslands and creeks on scheduled tours and programs.
A South Shore Staten Island park that combines a Raritan Bay beach with woods, a freshwater pond, playgrounds and trails, making it an easy mix of beach and nature day.
A 260-acre state preserve of ponds, wetlands, sandy barrens and woodland on Staten Island's west shore. The interpretive center has wildlife specimens and runs free nature walks, pond studies, bird walks and Tot Time for little ones.
A walled Chinese garden at Snug Harbor with koi ponds, rock formations, bamboo, pavilions and zigzag bridges. Kids enjoy spotting fish and exploring the winding paths.
A Staten Island park wrapped around a reservoir-lake with walking loops, a playground and wooded hillsides.
A wooded preserve in the heart of the Staten Island Greenbelt with ponds, swamp forest and hilly trails, home to the Greenbelt Conservancy's headquarters. Families come for guided walks and quiet trail hikes.
A nature center in a 236-acre South Shore park of ponds, wetlands and woods on Staten Island. Kids look for herons, turtles and frogs along the trails and join ranger or Friends-led programs.
A 265-acre park at the southernmost tip of New York State with a beach on Raritan Bay, woodlands and several historic houses including the 1680s Conference House. Kids can stand at the literal 'South Pole' of New York.
A Gateway National Recreation Area park on Staten Island's South Shore with a beach, marina, nature trails and ball fields. Families walk out to Crooke's Point for views of the harbor and shorebirds.
A 2.5-acre working farm on the Snug Harbor campus that grows produce with low-till and composting methods. Families can take guided farm and compost tours, shop the farm stand and join free Saturday stewardship sessions.
A long Staten Island beach and boardwalk with views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, playgrounds, spray showers and wide paths for bikes and scooters.
Free ranger-led walks, wildlife watches and nature activities for families in Staten Island parks such as the Greenbelt and Blue Heron Park. Rangers teach kids to spot birds, identify trees, explore shorelines and learn outdoor skills, with seasonal events like wildlife festivals.
Kids spend class time outdoors year-round, playing in mud kitchens, running obstacle courses and splashing in water play. Options include caregiver-and-me sessions, a nature school, an adventure crew, a homeschool collective and outdoor birthday parties.
A Staten Island Greenbelt park with a lake for catch-and-release fishing, playgrounds, trails and the Carousel for All Children, a fully accessible carousel.
A South Shore Staten Island park with tidal creek, salt marsh, beach frontage and a pier, known for its colony of purple martins in summer.
A 107-acre natural area on Staten Island's North Shore with ponds, wetlands and wooded trails on former industrial land.
The southern stretch of Staten Island's FDR Boardwalk and Beach, with a large playground, spray showers and a wide beach on Lower New York Bay.
A quieter Raritan Bay beach on Staten Island's South Shore, backed by woods and a pond in Wolfe's Pond Park.
LittleGotham lists 21 parks and nature spots for kids on Staten Island.
Yes. 18 of 21 are free to attend, including Fort Wadsworth, Clove Lakes Park, Freshkills Park.
Prince's Bay (3), Livingston (2), Heartland Village (2).