1. Shirley Chisholm State Park

    1. Shirley Chisholm State Park

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    Brooklyn, NY

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    Shirley Chisholm State Park

    4.5 (55 reviews)

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    Jamaica bay
    Mars A.

    I absolutely love this park. It's great for fishing during high tide, crabbing in the summer season, and there's even free bike rentals during the summer. The path is nice and smooth for biking, skating, walking or running. There's picnic tables everywhere to sit and have lunch.

    Shonta H.

    I enjoy hiking and walking along nature trails , something about the scenic views is relaxing to me. That being said , I headed out to Shirley Chisholm State Park for a walk. There are two entrances to the park from the Belt Parkway, Pennsylvania Ave & Erskine Ave. , both sides offer free parking. Park hours are 8:00 - 6:00pm daily. I got there early, the weather was hot and humid. I should have read the trail signs for distance and miles , It seems I choose the longest route There are tables with umbrellas and shaded rest spots. Free bike library Thursday - Sunday. Majority of the area is pebbles and grass be careful of ticks. The tide was low and the smell of the bay was in the air. Welp ! The great outdoors. Happy hiking !

    Even after 65, you can enjoy a summer bike ride!
    Cassie C.

    In honor of Earth day, I decided to review Shirley Chisholm State Park. I grew up with Prospect Park as my backyard which definitely help cultivate my love of parks. I vividly remember the summer that I learned to ride my bike without training wheels in "my backyard". Now fast forward to last summer, it's the joy that I get from bike riding that brought me to Shirley Chisholm along with the amazing pictures that other Yelpers posted. It's the 21st century, so man-made parks are definitely a reality. They did a really good job with this one. The varied trials that they were able to craft from this former wasteland is nothing short of amazing. The beautiful panoramic views witnessed here can't be duplicated anywhere else in Brooklyn. In addition to a great location for an outdoor photo shoot, it's also a great venue fora myriad of outdoor events like a family bbq, romantic picnic or small child's birthday party. Shoutouts go to the park staff especially those at the Bike Library who are always so helpful. I had not rode a bike in several years but my last couple bike rides have been on a bike rented from here. The paperwork is lengthy but can be filled out in advance online. There were so many different bikes and helmets to choose from that you're sure to find one that suits your needs. Whether you stay on the trails in the park or head up and down the path parallel to the Belt Parkway, you're sure to get a good workout in. Want to shake things up and re-acquaint yourself with the beauty of Brooklyn, head to Shirley Chisholm State Park.

    Andre O.

    Was here for the Black Men Run 5k, such a beautiful and large park. Ran through the park and enjoyed seeing all of the nature. Will definitely be back to see the park - it is so beautiful

    Diana B.

    Visit Date: January 17, 2021 I came here on a maybe date. I wasn't sure if it was a date but I was meeting a guy I knew on facebook who I was sure I've never seen in person before although we had mutual friends and went to the same high school so I thought it might be a date but there was no flirting going on while we planned the date so I wasn't sure. Anyway we agreed to hike this park together. This park is beautiful. There aren't many woodsy trails but it's pretty walking on the paths, and the grass and even prettier when you get near the beach and the water. I had a good time on the hike but my hiking buddy and I we had awful sense of direction so we walked the same path a few times until we got back to my car. This is definitely a worthwhile park to check out in the 5 boroughs area.

    Ayesha A.

    Starting the year off right. If you are looking for an urban hike there are plenty of hiking trails at Shirley Chisholm. The park Is spilt into two parts so just try to identify which trial loop you are want to do so you know which entrance of the park to enter. All the trials there are on the easy scale but they vary in distance. The trial is clearly defined and has small gravel rocks. You can hike here with sneakers. Park begins to close shortly before sunset.

    Tables and dirt trail.
    Lorraine W.

    This park has great sensory and lovely views and trails that people can take. It's enjoyable for people of all ages and has programs that all people to learn different things related to the park.

    Great Shirley Chisholm quote--the park is a tribute to her strength, positivity and perseverance.
    Kenneth S.

    Beautiful views of Jamaica Bay. Parking is very tight and the Park is not necessarily easy to reach by mass transit. That aside, the trails are well marked and the staff are helpful. It's amazing to consider that the park was formerly a NYC landfill/dump. Both sections of the Park are hilly. The eastern ("Fountain") side of the park is larger, road noise from the Belt Parkway fades quickly. We walked the perimeter of both sections, about 4.5 miles. Lots of birds and small wildlife. Note that perimeter trail is primarily paved, however the trails in the "Penn" portion of the park are principally gravel. No dogs. No kites. Limited services (though abundant port-a-potties where you would expect them).

    Water bottle filing station in the middle of the wilderness!
    Kseniya K.

    The lady navigating the cars to parking was not nice at all. Said parking was full, even though plenty of cars were leaving. So we just parked on the streets, a few blocks away. The 'park' is just a few hills with walking/biking trails surrounded by water. Nothing crazy scenic. The water is pretty warm, clear, and shallow, so swimming and splashing around in the summer is possible. Tons of mosquitoes and insects, so take some bug repellent. Many small animals running about, like rabbits and chipmunks. A plethora of musical birds will make your trip here more melodic and entertaining. Appreciated the surprise water bottle refilling station amid the 'wilderness.' Picnic tables available throughout the area. The park closes at 8, and the staff lock the gates promptly, so don't get locked in!

    Eric C.

    The one recommendation would be to give a civil rights icon a namesake park that wasn't a former garbage dump. But that (needed) point aside, it's a beautiful park. It has excellent views of the water, and the staff there clearly wants people to return. What I love is the larger, less popular for whatever reason, eastern half of the park. It's a great stress relief valve right off the Belt Parkway. I highly recommend it. Once this pandemic ends, I'm sure it will be a great great respite for holiday shoppers looking a breather after shopping at Gateway Mall.

    Chika D.

    I've never hiked a day in my life and for some odd reason I had the urge to do so earlier this week. I came here on a Tuesday sunshining morning ready to conquer the land. Music blared from my headphones as I trekked the Red Tail Trail. Encountered a butterfly -- when's the last time you've seen a butterfly? The water views are great and peaceful. There are several benches that overlook the water and is the perfect place to journal, eat lunch or just sit still. If the park had Wi-Fi, it'd be an awesome place for remote work. I did notice most of the grass is overgrown and dry. I understand the summer heat plays a role but I do wonder if this is a common sight when hiking. Also, let's not forget what can be hidden in overgrown grass -- wildlife. Hence why I don't hike, wildlife and I aren't friends. Nope! Nonetheless, I'm glad I did my first trail. It was a calming moment before the start of my day.

    Kathy Z.

    Wonderful park with plenty of trails to chose from. You can hike, run, and bike here! The fountain ring drive loop trail is about 3 miles and it is paved road with wonderful views, but if you are up for more of a challenge (running and hiking only), try the great blue heron, falcon, and gull trail. They range from 1.5 miles to 4 miles depending on which trail splits you take. The great blue heron, falcon, and gull trails are graveled trails with a lot of uphill and downhill slopes- so make sure you wear the right shoes to run / hike. The only downside is that this park doesn't allow any dogs. Other then that, you will be able to see a lot of wildlife, from snakes to rabbits. Also beware of ticks! Happy hiking!

    Fishing pier
    Mei C.

    Gorgeous, serene, scenic park right along the Belt Parkway. Came here two weekends in a row to enjoy this park and rent their free bikes. I haven't been on a bike since I was a teenager, so this was definitely a fun treat for me. The trail wasn't that long so I didn't feel super exhausted. At the end of the trail there's a tranquil shaded area for fishing out the pier. The park is newly built, and renovations are still underway for parts of the end trails; it wraps around the side of Fountain Avenue. I really enjoy this beautiful and clean park; it's one of the few things NYC has to offer that didn't pack a surcharge. Arrive early so the bike trails wouldn't be crowded, there's ample of parking spots on the Penn Ave side. Would like to one day go on the Fountain side and see this amazing park

    Waterfront

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    8 months ago

    Beautiful, quite,surrounded by nature. The park rangers offer walks and activities year round. One of my favorite places. Plenty of parking

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    Shirley Chisholm State Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shirley Chisholm State Park

    Once parked - is it a long walk to get to the facilities inside the park?

    Most of the trails are right near the parking lot. There is a parking lot at the Fountain Avenue entrance and a parking lot at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance.… 

    Does it have a built in grill?

    I did not see any built in grills.

    Is parking free? What are the spring hours?

    Yes , parking is free. Park hours are 8:00am - 6:00pm

    Is there WiFi?

    No there is no WiFi here. Also note that 4G reception is quite spotty and largely unavailable after the parking lots.

    Are bike rentals available?

    I know they have bike rentals but I'm not sure if they are available with the pandemic going on.

    Is there a parking on site?

    Yes, there is a parking lot next to the main building, right off the exit from the belt parkway.

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - Shirley Chisholm State Park

    Since it's near the Belt Parkway it's a pretty congested area, but there are parking along the side streets.

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    Shirley Chisholm State Park - parks - Updated September 2026

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