Beautiful park with historical former United States Army installation buildings and placards. They have cherry blossoms trees which bloom beautifully in season. The park is right by the water with stunning views of the Whitestone Bridge. A great place for a calming walk or picnic. The park is dog friendly and there is parking before entering the former army installation area. read more

Believe the reviews: the staff here are incredibly aggressive. There is a right way to talk to people, and then there is a hostile, nasty way--which is the default style here. ​The rules make no sense, either. The signs say "shower before getting into the pool," yet I was yelled at to shower just for walking to a lounge chair with my towel. If you have to shower the moment you step onto the deck, change the signs to reflect that. ​Dealing with the public is hard, but the staff here are completely miserable and looking for a fight. Save yourself the headache and go elsewhere. read more

They say it's called Fort Totten Park. But I gotta tell ya. It's tremendous. Just a tremendous park. Big. Beautiful. Tremendous. Park. China China China. Man woman camera shark. Big beautiful shark. I have 4 wives. 4 big beautiful wives. Gates being installed in parking lot to prevent cars and people from gathering at night and making a huge mess for everybody to clean up. Yay! But nobody comes to close the gates. Boo! Useless. Waste of money. read more

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Beautiful night at Fort Totten. We watched the strawberry moon. It was warm and a calm night This is local for me. I will be making more trips here. Nice way to spend a summer night. read more

My friend and I have been enjoying exploring Fort Totten Park. The first time we walked around the grounds and the water battery. They do a free tour at regular intervals each day, but we missed the last one - she did it the next day and said it was great. The grounds are beautiful and unique - lots of history and water views. Today we went to the public pool. We made sure to prepare and research the rules ahead of time, which are common for all NYC public pools. You must bring a combination lock to secure your cell phone and other items in a locker. You need to wear a swim suit, but can wear a white tee over it (which I did). You can bring your towel, sunscreen, water bottle, and book to the pool area. There was no line when we arrived today (Sat 1pm). Note - pool is closed for cleaning 3-4pm. Though it was relatively crowded, we were able to grab two empty beach chairs. The pool itself was spacious, but lots of kids and splashing as to be expected. You can only jump off the diving board in the deep end (no loitering), so the majority hung out in the main shallower part (4'5"). The life guards seemed pretty focused, and the staff was informative. All in all a nice option for a free pool in northeastern Queens - I would come back! read more

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Beautiful view, nice area for a walk in the park, picnic, or a pull out a good book to read. It's also a nice area to take photos. A lot of cars pacing by but it isn't noisy. read more

Fort Totten Park - Parks Near Me - Bayside, New York

Beautiful view of the throgs neck bridge on the rocky structure stretching into the water. Also a walk along the water available

Fort Totten has it all: beautiful scenery, a playground, baseball fields, soccer fields, swimming pool, and an awesome fort you can explore on the weekend (check their schedule). Most of Fort Totten is under ownership of the New York City Parks department and is also used by NYPD and FDNY as a training center. Part of Fort Totten is also on federal land (U.S. Army Reserves). There is a neat little visitor center at the back of Fort Totten, its hours are limited (again, check their schedule). The visitor center has live animals (live bugs, turtles, snake) and taxidermy animals (raccoon, possum, coyote). The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones was "hidden" here in 2019 as part of the promotion for its final season. Unfortunately, I refused to wait on the 6-hour line with my 3-year-old child back then. I'm removing 1 star because the Iron Throne should be a permanent feature of Fort Totten. #ForTheThrone read more

Fort Totten Park - Lots of old photographs of Fort Totten, oh yeah, and the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones! The throne was "hidden" at Fort Totten in 2019. - Parks Near Me - Bayside, New York

The park has a pleasant view and is suitable for a leisurely walk or a small picnic. There are some interesting places for photos, but you can feel the active traffic nearby, which spoils the atmosphere a little. The area is clean, with some historic buildings to explore. There are trees that bloom well in a certain season. Nearby there is a beautiful view of the bridge over the water. Parking is available, but the convenience depends on the time of arrival. The place is suitable for a short rest, although certain impressions are not enough. read more

Beautiful park for picnics! We did a picnic service with @picnicfeels and it was an amazing experience with the lovely view of the bridge! Highly recommend this underrated park! read more

Fort Totten Park - Parks Near Me - Bayside, New York

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I wish I'd discovered this park sooner. It is so beautiful, it's hard to believe you're in New York City. Wonderful place to bike, walk, picnic, take your dogs or just explore history. Many of the structures even have placards that explain their origin. There's also soccer fields and a public pool, but it was a little too chilly for soccer and, being Fall, the pool was of course closed. Cons: There's a lot of trash by the water (I even spotted a rat walking through the jetty) and there's a disturbing amount of anti-vaxx/anti-mask graffiti at this time. Both should be cleaned up immediately. A small blight on an otherwise lovely place for a day outing. read more

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I visited the fort in the park. The area is mostly used for NYC departments. A part for the land is used by army reserves. The fort is at the tip. A small covered walkway to the fort. The fort overlooks the Long Island sound. Small structure which you can explore. They have a small gift shop (with some exhibits). read more

Large park that goes along the waterfront of the Long Island Sound under the Throgs Neck and the Whitestone Bridges. Perfect For biking, rollerblading, dog walking, kayaking, running, fishing, hiking ... There is even a hockey rink with bleachers, a pool, ball field & dog runs. Just wonderful being outside. Clean bathrooms and lots of free parking which is a common in New York City. There are even a few buses that sto here, you don't have to drive. During the summer we bring chairs & a picnic to enjoy concerts & events here. read more

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Fort Totten Park was the trendiest place last year when the Game of Throne launched their last Season. There was a couple of thrones hidden around the world including the Fort Totten Park in Queens, New York. We tried to visit last year but the parking was super bad then so we didn't get a chance to check it out ourselves. Our friends told us it's a beautiful park with great bridge views recently and we decided to have a walk here. However, the park was closed during COVID-19 period and we only could walk by the lake. The view was still amazingly great and it was pity that we couldn't go into the park. We will definitely come back again when they reopen. read more

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This is definitely a really nice park,especially for taken photos. The back drop of the bridge and water front is truly amazing. If you are expecting a little bundle of joy this park is perfect for couples who want some really nice photos of the expecting mom baby bump.with the trees and flowers, and they also have a chapel and a place that looks like a castle. Really cool,it also has a pool and a nice size parking lot, there is also park staff on site for any questions you may have.when I was there the other day the pool was closed do to covid.I would definitely recommend this park . read more

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Nice getaway from the city that's for sure I've recently become obsessed with the water battery It's unfortunate the other battery is off limits, I think the scattered accessibility here is the only thing that ruins it. They let you explore the water battery and the torpedo tunnels but not the tunnel right next to it. Regardless, I'm grateful for that they do allow us to access..before it becomes illegal to even step foot read more

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A-OK place to come to chill and breathe fresh air. This place is great to come for hangout and chill with family The view is great tho but crowded most of times read more

Game of Thrones Fans! The Iron Throne is in NYC! Up until this Monday 7pm. It's deep down inside the Fort so you get the feel like it's really part of the GoT world. You get to sit on the Iron Throne and take pictures! There were a few people dressed in realistic costume. The line to get inside is insane though. Easily a 4-5 hour wait. I talked to someone there that said there was already a line forming at 6am in the morning, outside the park gate, even before they open. I didn't wait though, but for all of you diehard Game of Thrones fans... More power to you! Get out there and take some pictures! And maybe bring a chair with you.... and drinks... and something to eat. It will be a long wait. "You know nothing, Jon Snow..." This picture is as close as you can get to the Iron Throne without waiting on line. read more

Fort Totten Park - Side view of the Iron Throne! - Parks Near Me - Bayside, New York

Great park for walking, jogging, biking, family picnic or just to enjoy with view. Beautiful scenery if you enjoy taking photos. I so enjoy watching the Geese flying into shore in the evenings. Lot's of history here and historical buildings. read more

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I'm totten up all the reviews I'm writing, and this is yet another one, from Queens. This is a gorgeous Park in Bayside in Queens, and is green and lush and surrounded by water - and beautiful. A lot of people don't know how great it is, and I intend to keep coming back here and probably always will. People say that it's not really hidden well, but it really is. I wonder how many people outside of Queens know about this park. You can see sunset behind the bridge and you can't get much better than that. read more

Fort Totten Park is a converted military base, split between public use spaces, sections used by the US Army Reserve, Coast Guard, FDNY, and NYPD, and abandoned, undeveloped areas. A designated Historic District, it was the last active military base in Queens, dating back to the Civil War, although its batteries remain unfinished and it did not see active combat. Exploring Fort Totten Park on a sunny, beautiful late summer Saturday, it is reminiscent of Governor's Island, but with an abandoned vibe. Roads wind past green areas and Colonial Revivalist houses, all marked by numbers, some used by the US Army, FDNY, and others. The military batteries are located on the western side of the peninsula. The must-visit V-shaped water battery is accessible via a long, concrete tunnel designed for vehicles, located by the park's visitor's center, which also has an old-fashioned series of displays summarizing some of the fort's history. One can wander the lower level of the water battery, which is striking. The upper level is incomplete and not accessible, aside from tours. Just east of the military batteries is a designed park space with meadows, lawns, and wetland areas. It feels overgrown and a bit wild, despite some benches and a picnic area. Considering the park is on a peninsula, waterfront views of the Long Island Sound are surprisingly few and far between. The base doesn't seem designed to maximize water views and sections of the shore road were closed off. They are breathtaking when found, especially along the Shoreline Promenade north of the visitor's center. Although the peninsula, as a whole, is dotted with historic buildings, many are in disrepair and unsafe to approach, including the oldest building of all, the Willets Farmhouse, which pre-dates the military base. In almost spectacular fashion, a trio of former barracks buildings facing the grand parade grounds have large sections of their roofs missing. An exception is the picturesque former officer's club, studded with turrets and castle-like, now housing the Bayside Historical Society. Clearly a beneficiary of restoration. Aside from wandering the many roads past private or abandoned buildings, there are few amenities. Benches are seldom found. Shade sometimes feel scarcer still. However, there is a small children's playground, a pool and gazebo in the parade grounds. There are very good public restrooms by the visitor's center, and another set on the eastern side of the park. Visiting Fort Totten is a fascinating, sometimes surreal experience. It is also likely to disappoint if not visiting with the right expectations. It is best to know some of its history (for a quick start: https://forgotten-ny.com/2018/12/fort-totten-bayside/), but also that it is largely an underdeveloped public space. Self-sufficient, curious urban trekkers with an interest in the history of the base will have much to see. Those looking for relaxation may find it wanting for amenities, accessibility, and better managed public spaces. Here's to hoping that Fort Totten gets some restoration love that highlights its interesting history without excessive commercialization. Best reached by car (parking lot by entrance) or via Q13 and Q16 buses, which terminate at its entrance. read more

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IMHO, this is one of Queen's best and most underrated parks. I used to come here all the time in high school with my buddies (we called it 'The Rocks') and just recently biked here from New Hyde Park over the weekend. It might seem far but it's one of the easiest rides I've done. I took Marcus Ave then went down Horace Harding and then after that it's a straight shot down the Cross Island Bike Path. If you come here in the evening, your bound to see a few cars with the windows fogged up (you can guess what that is), plenty of people still fishing, and groups of friends just hanging out and drinking on the rocks. After you can off the bike path, if hang right you can venture right into Fort Totten and explore the base. The views here are awesome, especially of the Throggs Necks Bridge. There is also some really great food nearby. So if you decide to bike here like I did, rest assured you'll be able to carb up with some delicious eats for the ride back. read more

I remember going to this park when I was in elementary school as a trip on the yellow school bus more than once. Don't remember much , I thought this place would be similar to a museum where there are a lot of sculptures and artwork related to warfare. Museums are not up my alley,always found them boring so I didn't wanna come here. I was on my way to Francis Lewis Park but the Q15A bus just never came , this was my second attempt this weekend so I just gave up and came here instead to relax on my weekend. I just got blew away by how gorgeous the park is and the waters the birds...man I didn't expect to see different types of birds other than the usual. And it made my day how they set up the benches and places to relax, other parks usually put benches in random areas or right near where bicycles or pedestrians are walking. Fort totten put benches right near beautiful views and where there are not a lot of people. Perfect place to come relax alone or with family/friends. Just wow....top 5 park in Queens no doubt for me. And I visited pretty much all of them. Make sure to bring drinks and not get sun burnt lol. I almost never got sunburned from a park visit. My arms and neck and everywhere pink burnt. read more

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Fort Totten is a great place to walk around and see many old buildings built as far back as the 1800s. The scerny is amazing with views of the Throgs neck bridge and the water surrounding the area. People like to climb on the rocks to be closer to the water and chill and even sunbathe when the weather permits. It's nice to see many families getting out to have picnics or to play some ball. Dogs are plentiful and the long walk around Fort Totten is a great way to get excerice for both you and your pets. Historic buildings the bay,people enjoying the weather,Fort Totten is worth the time to visit. read more

Even though I'm not a huge history buff like my husband, I do enjoy visiting historical places. I do know that there is a TON of historical significance here, but I literally just looked at the gorgeous view while my husband rattled on about the different wars and what not. Yes only authorized vehicles are allowed actually on the premises, but it still a really great place to stop at because who knew this was right in our backyard! read more

Love this park. It is spacious enough to accommodate all crowds. It has a wonderful bike trail that is scenic and with a great view of the bridge. You can spend a day with the kiddos here, fly a kite, catch some sun for a tan, you name it! On the plus side, there is a good amount of free parking here! read more

I always have a great time at this park, and so do my bf and our fur baby (puppy)! It has a lovely historical feel with its buildings - they take you back in time! They really add a unique and intriguing touch to the park. We love running through the fields and beautiful buildings to the water... and then strolling back on the wide roads to our car. Lots and lots of pretty greenery. You don't even feel like you are in the city! Highly recommend spending an afternoon here when the weather is nice. read more

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Fort Totten Park is my favorite park. I've been going there for years. It's a beautiful historic park totally worth visiting. read more

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I love this park, it is my regular go to when I want to just chill outside, they have a great dog park and a clean bathroom facility and an amazing view of the bridge on the water ... there are always people walking or bike riding, jogging or whatever. If you love the outdoors and want a clean park to hang out in this is it read more

Love this park, Great place to people watch, walk your dog, bike ride, and even fish. My husband and I come out with our lawn chairs, play uno, connect four, or just relax with a book. The views are really nice. Overall a pleasant environment and very relaxing. There is a parking lot and a restroom (use at your own risk and be sure to bring your own tissue). read more

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It doesnt look like much when driving up to the lot. Everything else besides the bathroom you have to walk to. I usually only go to the battery and swimming pool The pool itself is always having maintenance and sanitation issues The battery is partially closed off and limited to weekends. Pretty corny if you're trying to attract more people. Theres a police and military presence on the island is nice. Would be nicer if the cops didnt look at every family like they were all criminals. read more

By a stroke of luck, the 6th location for the Iron Throne replica (the Throne of the Crypt) landed in New York, following Sweden, Brazil, Canada, the UK and Spain. I happened to be visiting my MIL in Queens so it was a no brainer that I go check it out. We arrived at the Fort Totten Park on Saturday at 7:00 am sharp, just when they opened the gates and the line started marching toward the historic battery which is about 10-15 minutes walk. After going through a long underground tunnel, the impressive two level Civil War era fortification appeared in full view, overlooking the East River and the Throgs Neck Bridge. Everyone started taking pictures in no time. The line zigzagged through the lower level chambers, so we get to people watch as we advanced through the line. There were quite a few cos-players, some very impressive. My favorite is the Jon Snow (a little bit of Samwell Tarly too I thought), see pic. There were also 2 actors dressed in official Game of Thrones costumes taking turns between tending the Iron Throne and chatting/posing with visitors waiting in line. They had to audition for this role. One of them supposedly appear in Blue Bloods. The wait for us was around 2.5 hours. The Iron Throne was very impressive, though smaller than I had imagined. There's also a sword in front of it. Each person had 30 seconds to sit at the throne and pose for pictures. A staff actually used a timer to get people moving! It was funny to see people frantically scrambling through different poses as the 30 second clock ticked away. We, too, felt the stress when it was our turn at the throne :) It was a super fun and memorable event. For this I am grateful to Fort Totten Park. Five stars!! read more

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Public NYC park that use to be an old military base. Large soccer fields and a few softball field for kids as well. Nice playground area, even paved roads for walking. About 1.5 miles of you walk along the perimeter. Scenic views of the long island sound with a fishing jetty near the entrance with a parking lot. Wild flowersv and plenty of species of birds flying around. read more

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If you are going to pool then be prepared for rude and unorganized personel there. After walking mile from parking lot they would not let us without lock for storage. They do not let even cellphone by the pool which is ridiculous. Person in charge by the gate seemed like had a pleasure turning people away. read more

Very disappointed with the management of Fort Totten Pool. We previously called and spoke with them to see if our summer camp could use their facilities. One of our staff members even went ahead of time to ask in person. The people we spoke with said it was okay and we planned our field trip day to go to the pool. Today, we arrived with around 50 campers and near 20 staff members to use their pool in the hot summer sun. We tried to go in and they said they would not let us in because they did not let camps in. They even said they would not let us in as individual families. It seemed like they went out of their way to deny us access, saying they would only allow 1 child per adult, maybe 2. High 80 degrees with so many children and adults denied access despite verbal permission before our trip. We are a local organization and arethis was extremely unprofessional and frustrating. read more

I have come here a few times, however, the few visits that I've been here was for fishing. There's a long jetty that overlooks the Whitestone bridge, it definitely is a good place to be for a nice view. I have caught several fish here, but it was all catch and release because I honestly don't think the water here is clean enough. The jetty is composed of big boulders, and can be a bit challenging to navigate and at some points can be considered dangerous for some people. I wouldn't come here by myself, it's always a good idea to have somebody watch your back in case anything bad happens. The area is possibly infested with rats, because the few times that I came here, you can hear rat noises and it's definitely not a comfortable place to be if you question if you're going to attacked or bit by a rat. I have stopped coming here because I have found better and safer areas to fish. This place definitely isn't a bad place to visit if you want to fish in the Queens area. Although this place has a nice view, I wouldn't bring a date to the jetty. read more

Originally built as a Civil War fortress, now a 60.39 acres shared site for New York Fire Department, the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard, and NYC Parks. A beautiful park well maintained for the grounds is clean and resonate beautiful views of Throgs Neck Bridge and Long Island Sound on a clear day. On a relaxing Sunday to attain inner peace and expel poison from what life has blocked me from achieving happiness, Fort Totten Park fends a nice walk-a-thon. The Parade Grounds serve as a soccer and events field to the public including a outdoor swimming pool. A jetty path is accessible by foot only which fends a clear view of Throgs Neck Bridge as the scenery of Long Island Sound is beautiful. Grounds are a secure site for a gated security admits visitors. Here lies U.S. Army Reserves where militarists serve their remaining passive years. A Visitor's Station is available to host as a small museum of authentic artifacts from the Civil War era. Kid friendly grounds and best of all--FREE! Fort Totten also inhabits a "Greenway," a park area designated exclusively for Bicyclers and pedestrians. For any avid history buff or those who truly enjoy the great outdoors, Fort Totten presents both without question. read more

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It's a must to visit place especially if you live in Eastern Queens! Probably only few knows that it is now a public park. I had been planning to come here and check it out for long. Glad I did, it was a perfect walk for today's good weather. The park is big but it's a good excuse for walking. It is used to be a Civil War fortress but now it is a shared site between FDNY, EMS, NYPD, US Coastal Guard, US ARMY, Bayside Historical Society, Korean Church Congregates and the NYC Recreations and Parks. You could do a self guided tour. Upon entering, make a left in the fork and the visitor center is at the end. Battery Park entrance is behind the visitor's center. The center has a small museum about the fort history. You may want to give yourself a little background before the hike. The fort was a historical eastern coastal defense during Civil War era. It was nice to know a little history about the place. The battery fort has two floors. On the top floor was where they locate the cannon guns and on the ground was where they store the cannon balls. You will enjoy the view of the Long Island Sound and the Throgs Neck Bridge while you are there on top aside on being enlightened by the history lies behind it. This part of the park is for you if you are a history buff. While touring the rest of the park, buildings or houses that used to be officers/non-officers quarters were turned into current FDNY, NYPD, US Army Reserve, Coastal Guards offices. My favorite is the castle where Bayside Historical Society houses. The chapel has turned into Korean worship place.There are fields that the public is allowed to use during weekend visit, the pool (weather permitting), dog field, the football field, the gazebo, the picnic grounds and tables ( no BBQing though), the children's playground and the view of the Little Neck Bay are all for free. The park is accessible by walk or bike, only authorized vehicles are allowed inside. Free admission. There is a good public parking lot before the entrance on the left- by the Little Neck Bay Park which is another good park( separate review). It's worth coming to the area as it has two different options for you to enjoy your day. Come by. read more

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Lovely Park with some amazing views of the Throggs NecK Bridge. Gorgeos in the day but breathtaking in the night. You can actually follow the path underneath the bridge to get a different view. The Fort itself is closed right now, but the park is open. Can get crowded if you come later (after 1pm ish) on weekends. The path is pretty long so jogging, walking or biking would all be great forms of exercise here. Lots of fishing going on there. I saw fish being pulled up on a few ocassions. You may want to get there early and get a good shaded spot. The park is very safe. Clean bathrooms. Lots of parking spaces available but can get crowded in the late morning/early afternoon on weekends. Best of all...the park is completely free! I highly recommend a visit. The nearby area on Bell Blvd. has some nice shops and eateries. read more

As Win C., said in her review, Fort Totten is definitely a gem in Queens..I don't know so much about "hidden" anymore..lol But it's definitely special! Outside, there's a newly renovated parking lot with plenty of free parking. People park here, and bring their bikes, kids, and strollers. Inside, it's technically a park now, but several buildings inside are still used for training purposes by the NYPD, FDNY and Army Reserve. There are great views of Little Neck Bay and Long Island Sound and on the rocks by the water, you can fish and actually catch some nice fish to take home! Of course, you gotta abide by the regulations because the fish have to be a certain length or you gotta throw them back. But last couple months, I noticed that there's almost no fish in the waters by the Fort. Aside from a few snappers here and there, most people who go fishing there, leave empty handed. You are not allowed to drive into the fort, unless you have an authorized vehicle or you're a gov't official or officer. Though once you do walk in past the security booth, it is quite nice in there. On July 4th, there's the annual fireworks display from inside the Fort. It's a big deal; lots of people who live in the area come down that night to see the fireworks light up the night sky! read more

Fort Totten Park - July 4, 2015 sunset.. a few hours before the fireworks! - Parks Near Me - Bayside, New York