History and culture in NYC’s Parks Programs

To learn more about these or other related events visit the official NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Pages. Be sure to check with them for last minute changes, cancellations or anything else.

Ice-age glaciers, Native Americans, Dutch traders, British Redcoats, and the Underground Railroad have all left their mark on New York City. Their stories can be found in the names of our streets, our architecture, and our parks. Urban Park Rangers specialize in interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made, in our city’s long history. Fans of military history can explore our city’s role in various conflicts at Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park and Queens’ Fort Totten Park. Architecture and the history of the Hudson River are explained at Manhattan’s Little Red Lighthouse and Highbridge Park. Native American culture is celebrated in special programs and lectures throughout the five boroughs and park history programs tell the story of your favorite parks from the past to their future.

Certain popular programs have limited space and may require registration.

Bronx

Sunday, February 16
New York And The American Revolution /
Van Cortlandt Park 1 P.M. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center, West 246th Street And Broadway

Sunday, March 9
Historic New York: Estates Of Pelham Bay /
Pelham Bay Park 1 P.M. / Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard And Wilkinson Avenue

Brooklyn

Saturday, January 18
New York And The American Revolution /
Fort Greene Park 1 P.M. / Fort Greene
Visitor Center, Myrtle Avenue And Washington Park

Saturday, March 29
Historic New York: Park Slope / Prospect Park 12 P.M. / Meet Under The Arch At
Grand Army Plaza,

Manhattan

Sunday, January 12
A Park For The People: Central Park /
Central Park 1 P.M. / 72nd St. And Central Park West

Sunday, February 23
Native Americans Of New York / Inwood Hill Park 1 P.M. / Isham Street And Seaman Avenue

Queens

Saturday, March 1
Historic New York: The World’s Fair /
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park 1 P.M. /
Meet At The Unisphere

Sunday, March 30
Civil War New York: Fort Totten / Fort
Totten Park 1 P.M. / Front Gate 212 Street And Cross Island Parkway

Staten Island

Saturday, January 25
Native Americans Of New York / Blue Heron Park 11 A.M. / Blue Heron Nature Center,
222 Poillon Avenue, Between Amboy Road And Hylan Boulevard

Sunday, March 30
New York And The American Revolution /
Conference House Park 1 P.M. / Hylan Boulevard And Satterlee Street

Urban Park Ranger Nature And Visitor Centers

Bronx

Crotona Nature Center:
Crotona Park. Enter The Park At Charlotte St.
And Crotona Park East. 718.378.2061

Orchard Beach Nature Center:
Pelham Bay Park. Section 2 Of Orchard
Beach. 718.885.3466

Pelham Bay Ranger Station:
Pelham Bay Park. Bruckner Blvd. And
Wilkinson Ave. 718.319.7258

Van Cortlandt Nature Center:
Van Cortlandt Park. Enter The Park At
West 246th St. And Broadway. 718.548.0912

Brooklyn

Salt Marsh Nature Center:
Marine Park. East 33rd St. And Avenue U.
718.421.2021

Fort Greene Visitor Center:
Fort Greene Park. Enter The Park At Myrtle
Avenue And Washington Park. 718.722.3218

Manhattan

Belvedere Castle:
Central Park. 79th St., Mid-Park.
212.628.2345

Inwood Hill Nature Center:
Inwood Hill Park. Enter Park At West 218th
St. And Indian Road. This Center Is Under Renovation Due To The Effects Of Hurricane Sandy

Queens

Alley Pond Park Adventure Center:
Alley Pond Park. Enter At Winchester Blvd.,
Under The Grand Central Parkway.
718.217.6034 Or 718.217.4685

Forest Park Visitor Center:
Forest Park. Woodhaven Blvd. And Forest
Park Drive. 718.846.2731

Fort Totten Visitors Center:
Fort Totten Park. Enter Park At Fort Entrance,
North Of Intersection Of 212 St. And Cross
Island Pkwy. And Follow Signs. 718.352.1769

Staten Island

Blue Heron Nature Center:
Blue Heron Park. 222 Poillon Avenue,
Between Amboy Road And Hylan Boulevard.
718.967.3542

High Rock Ranger Station:
High Rock Park. Park In The Lot At The End Of
Nevada Avenue, Off Rockland Ave., And Follow Signs.