Discover the natural beauty of our borough—known as New York City’s borough of parks—by visiting a Staten Island botanical garden or nature center.
Many nature centers have exhibits, as well as brochures and other informational materials designed to educate and engage visitors about the natural world around them. Some nature centers are meet-up spots for interactive nature-based activities, including group hikes to discover local wildlife, walking tours to learn about a park’s natural history, even kayak and boat tours to explore local waterways and wetlands.
Botanical gardens are wonderful (and colorful!) places for discovering plants and flowers from around the world, especially in the spring when you can see beautiful cherry blossoms on Staten Island. Browse our guide to local nature centers and botanical gardens to get started on your venture into nature on Staten Island.
Staten Island Botanical Gardens and Nature Centers
1. Blue Heron Park Nature Center
222 Poillon Ave.
718-967-3542
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Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 12-4pm.
Admission: Some programming is free.
This park is nestled into Staten Island’s South Shore and is a natural oasis of beautiful trees, ponds and wildlife. It is named after the blue heron, a gray predatory bird that can reach more than 4 feet in height. The park and nature center offer a variety of events and activities for the public.
2. Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
83 Nielsen Ave.
718-967-1976
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Hours: Park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. The Interpretive Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4:30pm
Admission: Free
This hidden gem in New York City is perfect for getting in touch with nature. Located on a 265-acre natural area, the park’s Interpretive Center offers free educational programs, cultural and natural history exhibits, and trail access.
3. The Freshkills Park Alliance
Freshkills Park
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Hours: Open on select days for tours and events; Studio and Gallery is currently closed to the public.
Admission: Fees for certain programs. Many are free.
This is the site of the former Freshkills Landfill. It is currently under transformation into Freshkills Park, which will be the largest public park built in New York City in more than a century. The park alliance offers programs to educate the public about the landfill-to-park transformation, including nature walks, kayaking opportunities, and waterfront tours.
4. Greenbelt Nature Center
700 Rockland Ave.
718-351-3450
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Hours: Call for information.
Admission: Free to visit the grounds and hike the trail; some programs have fees.
Experience the beauty of nature on Staten Island. The Greenbelt is 2,800 acres of preserved land that includes forests, wetlands, meadows, and lots of wildlife. Visitors can take in these views by walking along 35 miles of hiking trails. The Greenbelt offers a variety of nature, conservation, and recreation programs for all to enjoy.
5. High Rock Nature Center
200 Nevada Ave.
718-667-6042
Hours: Call for information.
Admission: Call for information.
Located in Staten Island’s Greenbelt, a nature preserve area, the center serves as a starting point for walking tours and workshop sites for educational programs.
6. Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace
718-448-2500
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Hours: Grounds: daily, dawn to dusk
Admission: Outdoor grounds are free
This popular cultural hub on Staten Island has 14 botanical gardens, a 2-acre urban farm, wetlands, and park. Gardens include the Rose Garden, known for its tranquil atmosphere complete with a reflecting pool and bronze statue of a heron drying its wings; the Perennial Garden, which was designed in 2000; and the Healing Garden, dedicated to the Staten Islanders who perished in the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Snug Harbor is also home to the Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, and others.
Pssttt…Our 10 Favorite Parks for Kids on Staten Island
7. New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace (It’s located within Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden)
718-448-2500
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 12-7 pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 11 am-7 pm through Oct. 1, 2023. Check the website for bonus open days and updates.
Admission: $5; $4 seniors; free for children 5 and younger and active military; Staten Island residents are admitted free on the first Friday of each month with proof of residency.
This garden is a bit of China right on Staten Island. It features breathtaking rocks that inspired the poetry and paintings of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist monks, as well as other scholars. There are eight pavilions, a bamboo forest path, waterfalls, and more.
Botanical Gardens in NYC That Are Worth the Trek
1. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave., Crown Heights
718-623-7200
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Hours: Check the website.
Admission: $18, $12 for senior citizens and students 12 and up (with valid ID). Free for children under 12.
BBG strives to teach visitors the importance of plants in our everyday lives. It also hosts a variety of nature-based educational programs and events for flower and plant fans of all ages.
2. New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
718-817-8700
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Hours: Tuesday-Sunday and Monday federal holidays, 10 am-6 pm
Admission: $35; $31, seniors and students with valid ID; $15, ages 2-12; free for kids younger than 2.
Home of a National Historic Landmark site on the northern half of Bronx Park, the New York Botanical Garden was established in 1891 and is one of the largest gardens in the U.S., containing more than 1 million plants. One of its greatest jewels is the Enid. A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian-style glasshouse, or the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, or the Native Plant Garden. The NYBG was inspired by a visit from husband, wife, and botanists Nathanial and Elizabeth Britton to the Royal Botanic Gardens near London. The trip made the Britons feel New York should have its botanical garden to conduct original research in botanical science. And don’t miss visiting NYBG in the winter, when it hosts the Holiday Train Show and NYBG GLOW.
3. Queens Botanical Garden
43-50 Main St., Flushing
718-886-3800
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Hours: April-October, Tuesday-Sunday, 8 am-6 pm; November-March, Tuesday-Sunday, 8 am-4:30 pm
Admission: $6; $4 seniors; $4 students with ID; $2 children ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger. Admission is free Dec. 16-March 31.
The garden evolved from the 5-acre “Gardens on Parade” exhibit showcased at the 1939-1940 World’s Fair. It remained at the original World’s Fair site until 1961 when it was moved to its current location in Flushing. Today, it’s a 39-acre botanical garden in the borough of Queens.
