Great Kills Park, public park in Staten Island, New York
Great Kills Park is a unit of the National Park System on Staten Island covering beaches, marshes, and wooded areas throughout its grounds. It offers walking trails, fishing spots, a marina, picnic areas, and a swimming beach with lifeguards during summer months.
The land was purchased by the state in the late 1920s and later developed as a public park under planner Robert Moses, opening in 1949. Since 1972, it has been part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and underwent extensive cleanup after decades of serving as a waste disposal site.
The park serves as a gathering place where local residents and visitors enjoy outdoor walks, fishing, and bird-watching throughout the year. Families use the open spaces for picnics and sports, while the waterfront draws people seeking a break from city life.
The park is accessible by car via Hylan Boulevard with parking available for visitors. Public buses (S78 and S79) serve the main entrance, and boaters can use the marina at Great Kills Harbor with appropriate permits.
The area was long used as a disposal site and contained radioactive radium from medical treatments, raising safety concerns that led to closure of large sections for remediation. Cleanup efforts aim to make the space safe for future enjoyment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
