Greenbelt Nature Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Greenbelt Nature Center in Staten Island offers a tranquil and beautiful nature escape within NYC, ideal for families and nature lovers year-round. It uniquely combines diverse, well-marked walking trails (from very short and toddler-friendly to multi-hour loops) with engaging indoor educational exhibits featuring local taxidermy animals (e.g., eagles, bears) and live animals (turtles, snakes, hissing cockroaches). Parents will appreciate the sparkling clean restrooms, large parking lot, and the opportunity for wildlife sightings.
Key Highlights
- ✓Tranquil retreat offering a beautiful escape into nature within NYC (Staten Island).
- ✓Diverse walking trails: from very short and easy (e.g., the Nature center trail, doable with a walking toddler) to loops lasting several hours.
- ✓Trails are well-marked, making navigation easy, even for toddlers (e.g., 'finding the next N' markers).
- ✓Educational indoor exhibits with taxidermy animals (e.g., eagles, squirrels, owls, foxes, wolves, bears) and live animals (turtles, snakes, hissing cockroaches).
- ✓Information on walls explains local nature and how it adapts to the environment.
- ✓Sparkling clean restrooms located at the Nature Center building.
- ✓The entire place is described as well-kept and maintained.
- ✓Opportunities for wildlife sightings (e.g., a peregrine falcon was seen flying among trees).
- ✓Features historical points of interest like the Heyerdahl stone home foundation.
- ✓Specific trails like the 'N trail' lead past vernal ponds.
Standout Features
- ⭐A large and convenient parking lot is available, with trails starting directly from it.
- ⭐Sparkling clean and well-maintained restrooms within the Nature Center building.
- ⭐Engaging and educational indoor exhibits featuring both taxidermy and live local wildlife.
- ⭐A variety of trails catering to different time commitments and difficulty levels, including 'mostly flat' options suitable for various conditions like snow.
- ⭐Provides a peaceful and serene natural environment easily accessible within NYC.
- ⭐Clearly marked trails ensure easy navigation, even for young children.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Call ahead to confirm schedules for outdoor programs or nature walks, especially during hot weather (e.g., 79°F), as activities might be relocated or substituted with indoor tours.
- →Consider visiting in different seasons (e.g., fall, winter) for varied experiences like snowy walks or observing seasonal changes (e.g., vernal ponds).
- →For families with walking toddlers, seek out the 'Nature center trail' for a short, easy, and well-marked walk where little ones can explore.
- →Keep an eye out for local wildlife; peregrine falcons have been spotted.
- →Look for the 'Heyerdahl stone home foundation' as a specific historical highlight during your hike.
- →Explore the 'N trail' if you're interested in seeing vernal ponds.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Outdoor programs/nature walks may be relocated or cancelled due to extreme weather conditions (e.g., a scheduled nature walk was moved from the area due to 79°F heat, resulting in an indoor building tour instead).
Price & Value
Pricing information (admission fees, program costs) is not mentioned in the provided reviews, making it impossible to assess value or hidden costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •A large parking lot is available.
- •Some trails are described as 'mostly flat' which can be beneficial for accessibility, particularly for a snowy walk.
- •No explicit mention of full wheelchair accessibility for all trails or facilities, nor specific accommodations for other special needs.
🚗Parking Info
- •There is a large, convenient parking lot available from which a large number of trails start directly.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as a 'tranquil retreat' and 'serene experience', suggesting it is generally not overly crowded, even during visits like mid-winter or snowy days.
- •No specific busy times or peak crowd levels were mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Trails are well-marked (e.g., with 'N' markers), aiding in navigation and preventing visitors from getting lost.
- •The entire facility, including restrooms, is described as 'sparkling clean' and 'well kept', indicating good general maintenance and hygiene standards.
- •No specific safety personnel, first aid stations, or controlled entry/exit mechanisms are explicitly mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Relying solely on a pre-planned outdoor activity schedule without checking for weather-related changes, particularly on hot days, as activities might be relocated or cancelled.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Greenbelt Tree Planting: A Ghost Forest Supporting Event
Friday, October 29th
N/A
Volunteer tree planting event with a breakfast reception at LaTourette Park, Staten Island. In conjunction with Maya Lin’s Ghost Forest.
Forest Stewards
N/A (volunteer opportunity)
N/A
A volunteer opportunity.
FRESH KILLS PARK - 2,200-ACRES OF PUBLIC PARKLAND!
N/A
N/A
Event showcasing Fresh Kills Park.
Annual Blue Jean Ball
N/A (annual event)
Tickets required
Wear your best denim and support the Greenbelt Conservancy.
Collaboration with Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design
Ongoing
N/A
Provides career-oriented high school students with place-based, work-based, and experiential education through distance/virtual learning, in-person field trips, and stewardship projects.
🍎Food Policy
- • A breakfast reception is included with the 'Greenbelt Tree Planting: A Ghost Forest Supporting Event'.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Visitors should plan ahead for restroom access during the Nature Center's temporary closure.
- • Report spotted lanternfly sightings to the NYS DEC online.
📅Booking Policy
- • Preregistration is required for November Greenbelt Education Programs.
- • Preregistration is required for October 2021 Public Programs.
- • Sign-up links are needed for December programs (implied).
- • Tickets are required for the Annual Blue Jean Ball.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Dani Baal
a month agoThe Greenbelt Nature Center, located in Staten Island, is a tranquil retreat offering a beautiful escape into nature. The center is surrounded by the lush greenery of the Greenbelt, one of the city’s largest parks, providing visitors with an array of walking trails, wildlife, and natural beauty. The center itself offers educational exhibits about the local environment, as well as programs and events for all ages. Whether you’re hiking, birdwatching, or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings, it’s a perfect spot for nature lovers seeking a serene experience in NYC.
Micah Mills
8 months agoI went to this place with a few people from JCC. I was expected to have a nature walk scheduled here, but when the owner told us that it was being done somewhere else in Willowbrook, I was surprised. 😯 So we did a tour of the building instead and I was really experienced by what they have here. They have these taxidermy animals that they have on the shelves. 🦅🐿️🦉🦊🐺🐻They had turtles snakes hissing cockroaches and much more. 🐍🪶🐞🦋🪳🐢They had information on the walls about the nature around them and how it adapts to the atmosphere. It was very hot like 79°when we first came there.🌡️🥵 I guess that is when they had to relocate because it was so hot in that area. After all it was an experience to learn about the forest like area and the history there.🪴🌷🌱🌿🏞️ I wish I can go back to experience more to see how it is in the fall season and winter.🍁🍂🌨️❄️🥶
Mike Z
a year agoVisited in mid-winter and appreciated large parking lot and amenities of nature center. Large number of trails start from the parking lot. Heyerdahl stone home foundation was highlight of the visit. I liked N trail’s area going nearby few vernal ponds. You can easily make loops from under an hour to several hours worth of hiking.
Carolyn Jamate
4 months agoPerfect spot for a snowy walk. Mostly flat! Also, saw a peregrine falcon flying among the trees. Bonus!
Moshe Eshel
5 years agoWhat a beautiful park! We took the Nature center trail, a very short and easy to do with a walking toddler! Trail is well marked, we let our little one run around finding the next N. So pretty and wonderful, nature right at your backyard! Staten Island is a hidden gem! Wanted to also mention the sparkling clean restrooms at the Nature center itself, and how well kept the entire place is.