Alley Pond Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Alley Pond Park offers a uniquely diverse urban escape with flexible hiking trails suitable for all levels, from easy paved loops around Oakland Lake to longer dirt paths. It's a fantastic spot for family recreation, featuring dedicated facilities like rock climbing, handball courts, and baseball fields, alongside abundant picnic and barbecue areas. Its natural beauty, especially the fall foliage and waterfowl, provides a significant nature-recharge opportunity minutes from the NYC metropolis.
Key Highlights
- ✓Trails are 'very friendly to folks of all levels' and provide 'several entrances/exits' for flexible walking distances (no need to commit to the full trail).
- ✓Park is 'very well kept' with 'public picnic places good for weekend family bonding time' and designated barbecue areas.
- ✓Features a 0.6-mile paved pathway around Oakland Lake, surrounded by dense tree cover, suitable for easy walks.
- ✓Opportunities for wildlife observation, including waterfowl like swans, geese, ducks, and heron, particularly around Oakland Lake.
- ✓Known for 'dense bright FALL Color on Leaves', making it exceptionally beautiful in autumn.
Standout Features
- ⭐Convenient parking lot available on-site.
- ⭐Specific facilities for children and youth: rock climbing, handball courts, and a baseball field.
- ⭐Abundant public picnic places and designated barbecue areas for family gatherings.
- ⭐Diverse trail system with both wide paved trails (suitable for groups) and dirt trails, offering flexibility for different preferences and fitness levels.
- ⭐Oakland Lake's 0.6-mile paved pathway offers an easy, scenic loop.
- ⭐Exceptional fall foliage and opportunities to see unique waterfowl like large swans.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Visit during the fall (e.g., second week of October) to experience the vibrant leaf colors and observe larger swans.
- →Utilize the multiple trail entrances/exits to customize the length of your walk or hike according to your family's needs.
- →If planning a visit on a summer weekend, arrive early to ensure you find a parking spot.
- →Bring all necessary supplies for picnics or barbecues, as the park is primarily a natural setting without on-site vendors.
- →Plan bathroom breaks accordingly, as the washrooms close daily at 4pm.
- →Focus on the wide paved trails for easier group walking or if using strollers; dirt trails are narrow.
- →Keep an eye out for various waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks, heron) around Oakland Lake.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Dirt trails are 'narrow for walking one behind the other', which may be challenging for groups with multiple young children or strollers.
- ⚠Parking 'fills up on summer weekends', requiring early arrival to secure a spot.
- ⚠Public washrooms are closed after 4pm, necessitating planning for bathroom breaks.
Price & Value
The park appears to offer free access to all its facilities, including trails, picnic areas, and sports courts, representing excellent value for family entertainment. No specific pricing for activities or entry was mentioned, implying it is a public, free-to-use resource. Potential hidden costs would be bringing your own barbecue supplies or snacks.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The park features 'paved trails' including a '0.6 mile paved pathway around Oakland Lake', suggesting good accessibility for strollers and potentially wheelchairs, though specific universal accessibility features are not detailed.
- •Washrooms are available, though with limited hours.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food is encouraged, with 'public picnic places' and dedicated 'place for barbecue' explicitly mentioned, indicating a family-friendly policy for bringing your own meals and grilling.
🚗Parking Info
- •A 'parking lot' is available and described as 'super convenient'.
- •Parking is 'easy with plenty of spaces' on weekday afternoons.
- •However, it 'could imagine it fills up on summer weekends'.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Parking suggests that the park can get busy and 'fills up on summer weekends'.
- •Weekday afternoons appear to be less crowded, with 'easy with plenty of spaces' for parking.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The park is described as 'very clean and friendly', implying a well-maintained and generally safe environment.
- •No specific security or first-aid measures were explicitly detailed in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Saturday and Sunday afternoons during summer if you prefer to avoid potential difficulties with parking.
- • Late afternoon visits if public washroom access is crucial, as they close at 4pm.
- • If your group consists of many young children or strollers and you exclusively plan to use the narrow dirt trails.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • Barbecuing is permitted in designated Barbecuing Areas.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Park rules exist; violations can be reported via 311.
- • Information available for Lost and Found.
📅Booking Policy
- • Permits are required for special events, booking fields or courts.
- • An account can be created to register for programs.
🚗Parking Information
- • Directions via Google Maps are available, but specific parking details (e.g., lots, costs) are not provided.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Saeed Khan
4 weeks agoI’m here almost everyday, no matter the weather, with my dog for her daily walks and play time. Alley Pond is very clean and friendly. The fields are always available, the trails are very friendly to folks of all levels. The trails also have several entrances/exits so you never have to feel like you have to commit to doing the full thing. There a parking lot, which makes it super convenient. For kids, they have rock climbing and handball courts, also a baseball field!
maria wong
in the last weekVery well kept park with many facilities for seniors or juniors. Public picnic places good for weekend family bonding time Great outdoor place thru out the season
Bill Lozano
8 months agoI grew up near this park over 50 years ago. I’ve only been back a couple of times since then. While visiting friends we went there to take a walk. We mostly followed the outermost trails and walked 3.5 miles. Parking on a July Tuesday afternoon was easy with plenty of spaces but I could imagine it fills up on summer weekends. We tried to stay on the dirt trails as much as we could but also walked on some of the paved trails. We only had one short steep hill. The dirt trails are narrow for walking one behind the other. The paved trails are wide for three or four people to walk together. It’s a great park to visit and brings back memories of my childhood.
Madhav Ranganekar
11 months agoNice place to spend time for family picnic or for jogging and walks etc. there is place for barbecue as well. Very nice and refreshing atmosphere if u want to spend some time from hectic life. Notes: carry everything you might need. There is washroom but it's closed at 4pm.
REBEKAH Mae
6 months ago5 Star Dense bright FALL Color on Leaves. Take an opportunity to explore ALLEY Pond Park & Oakland Lake right off Springfield Avenue & 47th Aven entrance from Northern BLVD. If you're in the neighborhood. Four Seasons is what I LOVE about New York City. Can you believe this GEM is minutes away from the NYC metropolis. Walked briefly around this small hidden lake escape, surrounded by fall trees. The dense tree cover helps one feel tucked away in nature among dense fall leaf colored trees. As you're walking around Oakland Lake .6 mile paved pathway around lake, you can also dip away for a closer view of the lake, off beaten path. I'm so fufilled at having a chance this morning recharge in Nature. Who knew this beautiful public space in nature existed in NYC- Queens Burough. It's been such a chaotic working, a nice break squeeze in. Be on the lookout for water fowl, swans, geese, ducks, and heron. Enjoy! Fall Second week Oct 2024, beginning see leaved change, and beautiful swans getting larger. The size of a very small foal baby horse, 118 lbs plus. Delightful