Silver Lake, Staten Island

Silver Lake is a large public park on Staten Island featuring a reservoir surrounded by open green spaces and recreational facilities. The grounds include tennis courts, baseball fields, biking trails, and multiple children's play areas distributed throughout the property.

The location was originally called Fresh Pond before being transformed into a lake during the 1800s through water management projects. It became connected to the Ashokan water system in 1917, serving a broader regional purpose beyond local recreation.

The cemetery within the grounds serves as a gathering place that tells stories of different communities who found their home in Staten Island over generations. Visitors walking through can sense the layers of immigrant history woven into the landscape.

The park offers free entry at multiple locations along Forest Avenue, Victory Boulevard, and Clove Road on Staten Island. Visitor facilities and parking are available without charge, making it easy to spend several hours exploring the grounds at your own pace.

The reservoir no longer serves as drinking water for the city but functions as part of an underground drainage system beneath Staten Island. Few visitors realize they are walking above one of the world's largest subsurface water management networks.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 40.62417,-74.09250

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:43