I often overhear parents complaining that “there’s nothing to do on Staten Island with the kids that’s free.” Naturally, I always put my two cents in, and end up telling them about a park many people don’t seem to know about — High Rock Park.
High Rock is recognized as a Natural Environmental Education Landmark. Over the past centuries, prominent Staten Island families — including the Flaggs, Conners, Ebbets, Tompkins and Vanderbilts — have occupied parts of High Rock. Many think the Boy Scouts own the land. The council did own it in 1930, but in 1951, sold it to the Girl Scouts, which then sold it to private developers in 1964. The land was officially dedicated as parkland in 1965.
High Rock is located between Pouch Camp (Boy Scout land) and the Moravian Cemetery. Nestled in High Rock is a rustic stone house built around 1921, which is now the headquarters for the Green Belt Conservancy. The park boasts five ponds, six walking trails, and a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view from the top of Mt. Moses, named after city builder and park commissioner Robert Moses. Visitors can also see hawks, owls, frogs, and turtles. Along the trails there are red maples, high bush blueberries, and patches of skunk cabbage. In 1996, Mayor Giuliani funded an asphalt parking lot on Nevada Avenue.
I often took my older boys there for days spent playing hide and seek, racing to the top of Mt. Moses, and simply enjoying the outdoors. They are much older now, 23 and 18, but I am blessed with another boy who is now 5, and we were there recently. Of course, I no longer have the desire to seek his hiding spot, or the energy to race, but I still love the outdoors. We spent the day pretending to be great explorers and animal rescuers, and rested for a while enjoying lunch on one of the many picnic tables. My son spotted a small stage in the middle of the trees, and he entertained me with his version of Shakespeare in The Park.
So, to all those who say there is nothing to do for free on Staten Island, I say: look around! We have many parks here — Silver Lake, Clove Lakes, and Wolf Pond Park to name a few — and every acre is free! Layer up, pull up your rain boots, lather on the sunblock, or zip up your windbreakers — and take a hike!
High Rock Park [200 Nevada Ave. in Lighthouse Hill, (718) 667-2165] Free. For more information, visit sigreenbelt.org.
