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, 10am-12pm and 1-3pm; hours may change after Labor Day, so call for updates.
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: Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30am-5pm
Admission: Free
This hidden gem in New York City is perfect for getting in touch with nature. Located on a 260-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
Fresh Kills Park
212-602-5372
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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.
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4. Greenbelt Nature Center
700 Rockland Ave.
718-351-3450
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Hours: April-December: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Closed on Mondays, major holidays, and on Easter.
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 marked 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
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Hours: By appointment only.
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, home to plants that live more than two years; 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.
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7. New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace (It’s located within Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden)
718-448-2500
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Hours: Through Sept. 30: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-7pm. Call to confirm hours after Sept. 30.
Admission: $5; $4 seniors; free for children 5 and younger and active military; Staten Island residents 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: Until April: Tuesday Sunday: 10am- 5pm; April 1-16: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-6pm; April 17-May 19 (Cherry Blossom Season): Tuesday-Friday: 10am-sunset; Saturday-Sunday: 10am-sunset; May 11-Sept. (Peak Spring and Summer): Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 8am-6pm
Admission: $18, $12 for senior citizens and students 12 and up (with valid ID). Free for children under 12. Click here to get tickets.
A 52-acre ‘living museum” with various plant collections and special gardens, BBG strives to teach visitors the importance of plants in our everyday lives. Must-see May highlights include Bluebell Wood, the Lilac Collection, tulips in the Annual Border, and azaleas and wisteria in the Osborne Garden. Check bbg.org/bloom for updates on what’s in bloom. BBG also hosts nature-based educational programs and camps for young children and their caregivers year-round, including a children’s garden program, discovery garden for kids, and summer camps.
2. New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
718-817-8700
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Hours: Tuesday-Sunday and Monday federal holidays, 10am-6pm; Members-only hours: 10am-11am; last at 4pm
Admission: Advanced ticket registrations required online. Packages offered for a variety of ages. Click here for pass options, such as Garden Pass: $22; $19 seniors & students (with valid ID); $8 children ages 2-12; free for children under 2 and members. New York City Resident Grounds-Only Pass: $15; $7 seniors and students (with valid ID); $4 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2 and members. Garden Pass + Conservatory: $28; $25 seniors & students (with valid ID); $12 children ages 2-12; free for children under 2 and members.
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 Brittons feel New York should have its own 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.
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3. Queens Botanical Garden
43-50 Main St., Flushing
718-886-3800
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Hours: November-March: Tuesday-Sunday: 8am-4:30pm; Free hours: Wednesday, 3-6pm, and Sunday, 10-11am. April-October: Tuesday-Sunday: 8am-6pm. Timed entry ticket reservations strongly encouraged for free hours. As the schedule may adjust over time, check the website for the latest hours before visiting.
Admission: $6; $4 seniors; $4 students with ID; $2 children ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger and members. Free for all Wednesdays 3-4pm and Sundays 10-11am; group rates: 10 percent off for groups of 10 or more
Includes the Queens Rose Garden, Green Roof Plant Collection, Fragrance Walk (shrubs, perennials, and bulbs that are especially fragrant during the growing season), Children’s Garden, Bee Garden, and other thematic gardens and historic plantings. Visitors can see a variety of different plants in bloom each month. The garden regularly hosts programs that demonstrate environmental stewardship, promote sustainability, and celebrate the rich cultural connections between people and plants. Children ages 2-14 can get involved in seasonal, hands-on gardening experiences year-round. The Farmer’s Market is open every Friday from 8:30am-4pm located at the Corner of Main Street and Dahlia Ave.
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