This is a huge park so there is something for everyone. There are some street parking options with free parking nearby so it's fairly accessible. There are a bunch of fields for baseball and soccer. There are two playgrounds; one for older kids and one for toddlers. The toddler playground is large with two jungle gyms, swings, and a sprinkler which would be great in the summer heat. Walking paths are paved and well maintained. Grass areas are clean. read more

Beautiful park in the Bronx with plenty of parking and you can get to it by train. The park has bathrooms and areas to bbq. Great for events and family outings. Also great for bike riding read more

It's a classic here, I like coming back here and it gives me a spiritual impression, especially since there are stops like that :-) read more

Pelham Bay Park - visit - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

If you want to feel like you're out of the city and not surrounded by people (I'm talked about you Central Park), then take the green line to the end and explore Pelham Bay Park. I couldn't believe how remote and green it was. There are endless trails and I even saw deer! Make sure to checkout glovers rock and learn more about the area's history. Super pretty area and worth a trip to BX. read more

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Pelham Bay Park located in The Bronx, is New York City's largest park. Yes, that's right, with 2700+ acres it's at least 3x's larger than Central Park. Did you know that Pelham Bay Park also houses a museum? The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, located on Shore Road, not far from Orchard Beach. This Mansion was the home to Thomas Pell and John Bartow's family for about four decades. Lots of history there. Golf you say? You'd like to play 36 holes of golf? Well stop by Pelham Bay Park and play at New York City's only 36 hole golf course. That's right, 36 holes can only be played at Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses in NYC. Just a stone's throw away from Bartow-Pell Mansion. Haven't ridden a horse in some time and would like to step up your Equestrian game? Come to Pelham Bay Park's, Pelham Bit Stables or Bronx Equestrian Center. With the miles of bridle paths within the park, either of these spots will have you trotting up your riding skills. With these three mentions, I've only scratched the surface. The Bronxes Pelham Bay Park has so much depth throughout, and is filled with nature, 13 miles of shoreline, amongst so much more. Bronx Flavor. If you don't know, now you know. read more

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I take advantage of Pelham Bay Park since it's so close to me. The reality of it though, is that PBP is a hidden gem of not only the Bronx, but of NYC as a whole. While I usually just walk the nearby Pelham Parkway trail or the surrounding neighborhoods for exercise, the park is really worth exploring even if you're not from the area. It's been said in many other reviews but I'll say it again: at 2,772 acres, Pelham Bay Park is *the* largest park in New York City. To put it even more into perspective, it's a little more than three times the size of Central Park. While there are plenty of open, green spaces for lounging and picnicking, that's only the tip of the iceberg. Tennis courts, baseball fields, bike paths, and hiking trails can also be found in the park. One may not realize this, but Orchard Beach is actually located *in* PBP, so the beach as well as the attached promenade and fields are also components of the park. Needless to say, there's a lot to see and do in PBP. Easily accessible by bus, subway, and car, it's definitely worth stopping by on a nice day. read more

Pelham Bay Park - wide open spaces - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

I love this park. I had an recent opportunity to go there with my Grandson. We walked near the dog run but there was only one dog owner and one dog. I've been here many times and I've always enjoyed myself there. I remember going there many years ago just to relax one of my friends said out of the clear blue sky "This used to be a Forrest"we just looked at him and laughed. We've had many barbecues in this park and many Birthday parties. read more

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Pelham Bay Park is such a hidden gem because the Bronx still suffers from stigma. Beautiful and historical, this park has it all. Football fields, pool, close to public transportation, horseback riding, golfing. read more

I really really love this park. Man.. Ive been visiting this park for over 15 years! Myself and with family or freinds.. I love how beautiful this park looks once spring and summer starts and the tree leave colors become gorgeous, doesn't colors ‍ ‍running/ walking or jogging here or doing sports football soccer or track and field, groups that get together to do zumba , play tennis or to use gym equipment thats free space, it is addictive. So many people working out makes you get motivated to get fit. Lately, I've noticed new signs that help locate where your group might be. Incredibly helpful in finding your group. However, I've notice the lamp post signs (that signal where certain areas) have really deteriorated to the point there is no info. I spoke to Parks and Recreation and they didn't think anything of it, to my surprise, they could care less. Which was pretty annoying to me. Anyways here are some new pics hopefully we get new signs to replace the washed out ones. If this was manhattan parks im PRETTY sure they don't experience this nonsense. read more

Pelham Bay Park - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

Pelham Bay Park is more then meets the eye. The largest park in the Bronx and NYC at 2,765 acres. Most don't realize that PBP extends up the Hutchinson Pkwy (to Mount Vernon & New Rochelle boarders) along Co-Op city, to City Island and including Orchard beach. The park includes several paths for biking & hiking, golf courses, marshes & salt water shores looking on to the Long Island sound. The main park has a parking lot, several play areas, and is a well known location for BBQ's and family picnics. There is a track and fields & court for multiple sports. The park even houses stables and has horseback riding trails. The park also provides a home to 2 Nature Centers, the Pelham Bay Nature Center and the Orchard Beach Nature Center. The PBP Nature Center offers an array of different activities. With the most expansive calendar in the summer months of June, July, and August. The staff in the center are great... very knowledgeable, approachable and well versed on the activities at the park for both kids and families. The center itself is small but is the home of a few pet turtles and a couple of fish tanks, containing fish and crabs. Besides pets the center also houses several different educational tools and a few displays all providing, animal knowledge and history of the park. Good resource to know about for some summer activities. Just A Note: All activities/descriptions are not always listed on the nycgovparks.org website. So it's best to call or to stop by and pick-up a calendar for the month. Summer wkends a good picnic location is a hot commodity and a spot in the parking lot is usually hard to come by. read more

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I love Pelham Bay Park. It's such a pleasant surprise. When you drive in, you may be put off at the price of parking, but it's absolutely worth it. The picnic areas have a vibrant feel, and Orchard Beach is very family friendly without overpowering you with Coney Island's eccentricity or the Jersey Shore/Long Island's classism. The trails are perfect with a hidden-in-plain-sight feel. We went there on a weekend and spotted two deer, in an wooded area that felt so secluded that you forget for a moment that the parking area is filled with the beautiful sounds of bomba. I will be back. read more

Pelham Bay Park is, as many other reviewers have mentioned, the largest park in NYC, larger even than Central Park, which is enormous. Pelham has everything - hiking, a beach, nature education centers, sports fields, and much more. We were mainly there for the hiking on Hunter Island, but we did also take a stroll on the boardwalk. It was a warm-ish January when we were here, but it was still a really pleasant hike around the island. Altogether a fantastic place to spend a nice day at! read more

Pelham Bay Park - Marsh on Hunter Island - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

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One of my favorite places in NYC. Pelham Bay Park has a lot to offer from wooded trails, salt marshes, beaches, picnic tables with bbq pits, and wildlife. I love exploring the trails, climbing the rocks by the shore and sitting down to watch the birds or the waves. There is quite a lot of wildlife there; on one trip I saw great egrets, chipmunks, a rabbit, frogs and tiny fishes by the reeds and in the tidal pools. I've also done seining once on Orchard beach and found blue crabs, eels, and fishes. If you plan on exploring Hunter Island be sure to use insect repellent. Also be mindful of the tide if you are going to Two Tree Island by Orchard beach because the strip of land becomes submerged during high tide. The trails of Pelham Bay Park is very relaxing and it seems a world away from the city. It might take a while to get but it is worth it. The Bx12 bus brings you straight to Orchard beach but I believe it only runs in the summer. At other times you have to do quite a bit of walking to get there if you're not driving. read more

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A huge spot with diverse terrain, reachable from the 6 train. If you wanted to make a Blair Witch reboot there are woodsy and swampy areas to peruse. One bathroom was closed, the other was reprehensible. read more

I'm new to running so I've been trying to keep up with my weekly Sunday commitment to run with my friends at the park. Pelham Bay is big. There's a track, kiddie parks, picnic areas with bbqs, plenty of wide open spaces for the kiddies and pups and a great path that leads into a few directions if you're looking to have a long run or bike ride. There's a new trail that leads from the park, along a cpl of highways, all the way to Orchard Beach, City Island, Pelham Parkway, Coop City and even New Rochelle, if you're feeling up to that task. I like the North Trail, which runs along the I 95 and Hutchinson River Pkwy. It's new asphalt and gives during a jog which can be forgiving to your knees. Tip: If you're looking to BBQ, make sure to get your spot early. They fill up and the park gets pretty crowded, especially on warm summer weekends. read more

More than meets the eye. Read about and see Bronx history,Bartow Pell Mansion (tours) to the Sinoway Indian trails, to War of Independence battles, Glover's Rock (Strategic War of Independence Battlegrounds) ,*Dinosaur footprints, Shore road bicycle trails and cycling trails from The #6 train station thru the park, orchard.beach, Pelham parkway,City Island, (Almost) Glen Island, Kazimiroff hiking trails, the running track, soccer, baseball fields, Statues of "Winged Liberty", and the "American Boy". Loud Crowd at the beach during the summer, but cleaner, quiet areas northeast of the parking lot. Even an island or three reachable by foot (depending on the tides) Off season parking at Orchard beach is free.(A charge during summer season) A full day Couldn't cover it all. Beach, hiking, cycling,track and field,trails......... read more

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The largest park in New York City doesn't disappoint. After 15 years in New York, last February I finally made it to this place, and I'm so glad I did. Although winter season may seem boring, the park these weeks loses its main drawback: the crowd. There's plenty to keep you entertained for hours: nature trails, meadows, a never ending beach (Orchard Beach), a beautiful coastline (overlooking Hog Island and Glen Island), cute little inlets (Twin Island and Two Trees Island), a gorgeous mansion (Bartow-Pell Museum)... everything just a few minutes drive from busy City Island. My highlight was walking along the Kazimiroff Nature Trail surrounded by snow. A great day trip from the City. read more

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t's a nice big park for picnics, sports and BBQ's and stuff like that. There's a nice monument at the main entrance, the Bronx victory memorial. Then there's orchard beach, a good alternative if you're sick of the crowds at Rockaway and Coney Island. They surprisingly have a pretty good bike paths all around the park which I really like. There is also a really nice walking path at the very top of Orchard Beach I highly recommend walking this. read more

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They finally up'd the dog park into a better appearance. Tennis courts, Track & field are nice. They're making more adjustments to the park. read more

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Such a lovely lovely park, and very easy to get to - it took us 30 minutes by car! It's incredible how green and natural it is despite being so close. Our dog went crazy for the woods- she was able to track down two deer, something we used to have to drive way upstate to do! Picnic area is lovely as well, with plenty of benches and shade. read more

Pelham Bay Park - Orchard beach - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

Last night I was overcome by a sudden sense of nostalgia while trying to fall asleep; I got lost in a memory of coming late at some hours of dusk to meet my friends, who have just finished playing a game of football and the girls cheering them on. Arriving just in time to lay abreast my tired friends on makeshift pillows of bookbags and pullover hoodies (because that's what teenagers wear) and stare through a translucent sky where anywhere else in NY it would be impossible to see the stars vividly. A luxury I realize I can't afford as an adult. My days of spontaneous games of Ninja Tag and riding to Orchard Beach on their bike trails are numbered and probably in the single digits. Retrospectively, I realized this is a perfect park for growing up. Being NYC's largest park (fun fact), there's a multitude of activities to enjoy. Adjacent to each other are 3 baseball fields, 2 jungle gyms (1 for children and the other... for slightly bigger children? tiny adults), 8 tennis courts, and a full sized track field. All of which are constantly renovated and well maintained. As a park, there are stations set for picnics and barbecues, and a lot of the terrain is unmanaged, granting the more adventurous to set off on hours long explorations. Some trails might lead you to a desolate area of the beach that's popular for midnight bonfires and others might lead you to what a lot of people believe to be a magical tree... that is alive and wants to kill you. The majesty of the park is only possible because of the lax security of the parks and rec department. Unlike Central Park, nobody's going to yell at me for pogo-ing around the tennis courts, and nobody will kick you out if you want to watch the sunset on the football field with your girlfriend. But like everywhere else, there are going to be kids laughing at you when you try to learn to ride a bike. Something that my kids will have to endure... because I will also be laughing at them. read more

An awesome place to spend a spring or summer day, very beautiful and relaxing. You can do pretty much anything here, hiking, bike riding, or just laying around on the grass and reading a book. Aside from that, there are all sorts of places in the vicinity to explore like the Pell mansion and Hunter's Island, etc. If you have access to a boat, David's island, slightly to the north east is an amazing place. It's a former Army base and Civil War prison. I think it's forbidden to land there, but from the water you should be able to see all sorts of ruins, if the city hasn't ripped it to shreds yet. Cool stuff. I should probably note that there is a minor "hood" element at times, so just be smart about what you do and where you are. Regardless, NYPD and Parks Dept. makes their presence known and there are usually tons of people out in the nicer weather, so it's pretty safe. read more

PARK NEEDS AN OVERHAUL The Pelham Bay Park I am referring to here is the Bronx section, not the part that seeps into Westchester or near it. SUMMER WEEKENDS ARE CHAOTIC: Gang members congregate and smoke/drink in the park, they also stand in and block walkways. People are blasting loud music which is disrespectful to neighbors in the park who don't want to hear it. Littering is RAMPANT. People are trashing the park and refusing to use waste baskets or bring trash bags. I find that the park rangers do not enforce their rules possibly out of fear of community backlash. WEEKDAYS ARE BETTER: Much more quaint however I would like to see people pick up their trash and stop throwing it all over the grass. Overall the park has great potential if rules were ever enforced here, which they probably won't be. It would also be nice if the city would invest in some grass seeds. The grass looks terrible especially compared to Central Park. I know, I know, Central Park is for "The Rich" but why does Pelham Bay Park have to be neglected? The city seems to have enough money to maintain Central Park yet they don't work on Pelham Bay Park. Doesn't it seem a bit selfish for the 5th Avenue and Central Park West communities to NOT contribute charity to parks outside their residential area? MY ADVICE TO CITY OF NEW YORK PARKS DEPARTMENT Minimize the barbecuing area. Since you have opened up a huge section of the park to allow it, barbecuing encourages activity that simply makes the park look bad such as excessive loud radio playing and incredible amounts of littering. The area around the World War 1 memorial has remained peaceful because you do not allow barbecuing it in that section. read more

Pelham Bay Park - Pelham Bay Park Rules - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

I LOVE, LOVE this park. I know some people might think I am overrating it and maybe I am, who knows. What I care about though, is that I have some very awesome and fond memories in and of this park, and for good reason. First off, this is NYC's largest park and is 3 times the size of Central Park. The nature in this park is fabulous and the recreational activities you can partake in are plentiful. There's several baseball fields, a big astro turf and track for jogging, soccer, football and much more. My friends and I would go there at night and wrestle and practice martial arts at midnight are later which was awesome. There's two parks for kids with sprinklers, and plenty of trails to hike. Especially if you have a bike, its awesome to take the trail to Orchard Beach but especially during the night when there's no one there and you can enjoy the scenic view of City Island. There's also the statue that is commemorative of the Jewish soldiers who died in World War 1. I usually frequent that and lay down on the grass (if there's no geese droppings around) to get a piece of mind. The wildlife is also astounding in this park! You'll see plenty of raccoons, possums, skunks, and an abundance of bird species. I've spotted more than a few hawks and other birds I rarely see in other parts of the city besides pigeons. This is simply one of the best parks in NYC and kind of a hidden gem in my opinion. Its definitely over shadowed by Central Park and Flushing Meadows but thats definitely fine with me. I wouldn't want it any other way. read more

.About two years ago I had an epiphany and started taking interest in parks, nature and the arts. I believe it had a lot to with my international traveling when I said to myself I pay all this money to go to another country and check out their parks, museums and I live in one of the famous and popular cities in the world and don't take advantage of what's in my own backyard. A friend and I joined a few meet up groups that hike or walk throughout different parks, bridges and neighborhoods in the city and surrounding areas and it has been an amazing experience. During this particular trip we walked from Pelham Bay Park to Orchard Beach and City Island. It was a long walk and day but we saw so much that it made up for my aching feet at the end of the day. We saw people walking, jogging in workout classes or just relaxing and BBQing. We passed the stable for horse bike riding and took a few pic of the horses. We stopped by the golf course and took advantage of their restroom facilities. The park is huge with several entry/exit areas. There were a few times during our nature trail work I was shocked I was in NYC because of all the greenery, woods and nature feel. This is definitely a place to check out and see as much or little as you want depending on your mood. read more

I've only scratched the surface on exploring this park in my borough, but green spaces like this make it a very worthwhile retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a beautiful area where once you enter, there's an immediate sense of calm. Ahhh. Lots of parking--I recently walked around Orchard Beach (not quite open for the season), but saw the little concession stands, and there were also plenty of other folks walking it in, taking in the early spring days. I will be back! read more

This park was beautiful with nice walking paths, a playground and sports fields. I went to walk along the water and that path was under construction and blocked off :-(. We ended up just having a picnic on the grass. Great for a nature walk or bicycle ride! And parking was free and there was a huge parking lot. read more

I came here on an early Saturday morning for a boot camp class and I was shocked how nice this park is. Yes I'm a Queens snob that doesn't really like to travel to the BX for a park. The park was full of people working out and playing some sort of sport. The grounds were kept really clean and they have parking lots. There is a lot of things to do here but I didn't get to explore but will do next time. read more

Pro: You are literally my backyard Con: In the warmer months, my backyard is always being invaded by people barbecuing at the pits until midnight (Get off my lawn, you crazy kids :::shakes fist:::) Pro: There's tons of wildlife; geese, the occasional deer, hares, etc... Con: I often have to bike or walk through said wild-life's poo. Pro: You are filled with playgrounds that have sprinklers! Con: I look like an overgrown idiot running through your playgrounds with sprinklers, or trying to cram my ass into a swing made for a toddler. Pro: Your waters are deep enough for speed-boat rides, yet calm enough for fishing. Con: This water is prolly just as polluted as the Gowanus Canal...and I ain't eating no Simpsons-esque mutated 3-eyed fish! read more

I've never actually stopped in here, but driven through it many times either going to or coming from work, in order to bypass traffic on the Hutch or I-95. it seems there's horse riding, picnic areas, parks, and more. even on the areas closer to the main roads you'll see deer and many types of birds just hanging out. one day I'll stop and actually check it out more...when I'm not trying to run down obstinate bikers. read more

Easily one of the best parks in NYC. So much to do & so much to see. I was hiking here yesterday afternoon & could not get enough. The Bronx is always stereotyped as being gritty & not a welcoming place to visit. Then you have parks like Pelham Bay & you realize how uninformed you are. This park isn't just the wide open space you can see from the Pelham Bay train station, theirs so much more if you're willing explore. Be careful as you can easily get lost & travel with a friend if you're adventuring out deep into the park as it can feel a bit uneasy seeing fellow hikers in such a isolated area. Nonetheless if you're a Bronx resident looking to get away from the city lights & car engines take a trip here. It you're an outer borough resident looking to expand your NYC horizons for some great sights & peace than also take a trip here. read more

Pelham Bay Park - Parks Near Me - Bronx, New York

I'm from Pelham Bay and grew up going to this park. I love this park, from the baseball fields to flying a kite, smoking and having the mexicans playing soccer yell at us to get out of the way. All in all in all a really nice park. Except in the summer on Sunday this place gets invaded by the mongol hordes, jesus christ it's gotten ridiculous the past 10 years. I always thought the picnic was wherever the car broke down but apparently it always makes it to bruckner boulevard & pelham bay station. Whatever, as long as everyone's having fun! read more

3.5 stars... Pelham Bay Park is a great example where bigger isn't necessarily better. The park boasts the title of being NYC's largest park, although it's far from the best. Everything in the park that's man made is either abandoned or in complete disrepair and it isn't the cleanest or well maintained park I've ever been to either. The park is sort of split into three sections. The lower section of the park is often packed with families (mostly latin) having picnics and parties (the park has picnic tables and allows grilling in this area). This section also has the very nice Bronx Victory Column topped with a golden figure of Victory. The upper section is dominated by two golf courses but also has the historic Bartlow Pell Mansion. The other section has Orchard beach, a decent sized beach on the Long Island Sound. This section also has a number of paths and trails. This is where the park stands out. This is the closest place to hike through the woods with no sounds of cars or people. Harriman State Park is much better for hiking but that's 35-40miles north and obviously doesn't have a subway stop right by it. The bike paths here are decent but somewhat limiting. Overall it's an ok park but if you have a car, there are better places to go and if you're taking public transportation, there are only a select few things worth coming here for. read more

Pelham Bay Park...Wow. Memories. I used to bike/blade/skateboard there and hang out with friends. One of our favorite spots at Pelham Bay was way past the softball fields, through the high grass, and onto the secluded "beach" (if you want to call it that). Yup, the one with the gigantic rock wall. I took my dogs to the dog run that was built there (when it was rather new). Pretty cool addition to the park. Other than that, I used to go to PBP on grammar school and middle school trips (field days). I used to practice (football) there with my friends, as well, once in a while. I pass by PBP once in a while when I'm driving by on I-95. I still see the birthday parties being held there. Thank God my parents never held mine there! haha The park looks better than it used to about 10-15 years ago. It looked rather run-down when I used to frequent. Overall, it's a fantastic park to hang out at. Running on the track, practicing sports (tennis courts, too), or just relaxing on the greens. read more

I love this park because it's in my neighborhood and walking distance to enjoy the track, open green spaces, bike paths, and just get away from the congestion of The Bronx. My dog loves coming to this park, and the dog run is always full of dogs. It's almost too big, and is so spread out that it is really like 3 huge parks. The softball fields and tennis courts are great, and are conveniently located close to the subway/neighborhood. I wish the Parks Department would put a little more money into the park, tho, because during the summer months, a lot of people who do not have so much respect for the park use it as their backyards and treat it as the visitors they are. Pelham Bay Park is very safe, very family oriented, and is a good place to see how diverse NYC is, and see everyone do their own thing. read more

One of the best places ever. To me, anyway. There isn't anything like getting off the bus or train, crossing the overpass, and just wandering around aimlessly. It's fun to go hunting for a quiet nook where you can just sit and meditate. If you're feeling more active, it's fun to go hiking, or exploring some of the woods, or the playgrounds. It's the perfect ratio of nature to civilization. read more

Pelham Bay Park is a fairly decent sized park and recreational center located in a very nice neighborhood in the charming and lively area in Bronx, New York. This park can be accessible from Interstate 95 New York, the Hutchinson Parkway and Pelham Bridge Road to Shore Road. Perfectly nestled between Givan Creek, Hutchinson River, Turtle Cove and Pelham Bay. This park features many parking options. Pelham Bay Park features many engaging amenities, programs and water activities for all ages. This park features opens fields, courts and paved pathways for outdoor activities such as walking, biking, skating, jogging, strolling, soccer and baseball. Also, this park features wooded trails, salt marshes, beaches, picnic tables with BBQ pits and wildlife. read more

Good location. Parking is horrible. It can get very rowdy with the type of people that show up. Should have MORE COPS AROUND. Great for BBQing. read more

I'm posting because I went out to PBP over Memorial Day Weekend and me, my partner and my dog got COVERED in ticks after a very short walk through the grass. On top of that, I was just diagnosed with lyme disease after my exposure on that day. SO...I don't know if the NYC Parks Department isn't spraying or even attempting to manage but be VERY CAREFUL or avoid the wooded areas entirely. read more

A superb bike ride from the Bronx to Orchard Beach before Memorial Day. I can imagine this is the unofficial second Bronx zoo with how many people must frequent this place. We rode to the northern tip of the bay and tried to orient ourselves. Luckily, there was a tour guide who had just arrived from Van Cortlandt Park leading a group around. He told us about how Robert Moses did a lot for this 2,700 acre park. The guide pointed us to the Throngs Neck and Whitestone Bridges and gave us a history of the neighboring islands. One with a building that seemed to take over the island was apparently owned by CBS back in the day for broadcasting. We also found out that the beach is man-made, imported sand hailing from New Jersey. They took a cue from California's boardwalks and have a ton of courts for any type of game you would want. If you are in need of quiet, the park also offers spots to catch wildlife. Obviously the animals, like me, forgot they were in the 5 boroughs. read more