Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve is state park of the U.S. state of New York, located near the southwestern shore of Staten Island. It is the only state park located on Staten Island.

The park is a 260-acre (1.1 km2) nature preserve, comprising wetlands, ponds, sand barrens, spring-fed streams, and woodlands. It includes pitch pine woods, and rare wildflowers such as cranberry, lizard-tail, possumhaw, and bog twayblade. The animal species found in the park include northern black racer snakes, box turtles, Fowler's toads, green frogs, and spring peepers. More than 170 bird species have been sighted in the park. Deer have also been spotted as recently as September 2010.

The park was created in 1976 after extensive lobbying by the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a local conservation organization. The purpose of the preserve is to retain the unique ecology, as well as to provide educational and recreational opportunities, such a nature walks, pond ecology programs, and birdwatching. Horseback riding is permitted on 5 mi (8 km) of bridle paths. The park has two designated areas which are set aside for endangered species and which are off-limits to the public. Two hiking trails, the Abraham's Pond Trail, and the Ellis Swamp Trail, are open to the public near the park headquarters.

The park was the site of extensive mining of white kaolin clay in the 19th century that provided the raw material for bricks and terra cotta. After the abandonment of the quarrying operations, rainwater, natural springs, and vegetation filled in the pits. The preserve also contains archaeological evidence of settlements of the Lenape, early European settlers, and the Free Blacks of Sandy Ground.

In October 2008, an interpretive center opened on Nielsen Avenue with exhibits on the history of the Charleston area and wildlife and plants found within the park.[1] The groundbreaking for the $1.3 million nature center was held on May 4, 2007. The 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) facility contains exhibit space, classrooms, and an outdoor pavilion.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lee, Jamie (February 26, 2009). "A new way to look at nature at Staten Island's Clay Pit Ponds". Staten Island Advance. http://www.silive.com/southshore/index.ssf/2009/02/a_new_way_to_look_at_nature_at.html. Retrieved 2009-08-08. 
  2. ^ Nyback, Glenn (May 5, 2007). "Mother Nature, get ready for your closeup". Staten Island Advance. 

External links

Coordinates: 40°31′59″N 74°13′59″W / 40.533°N 74.233°W / 40.533; -74.233



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Minnewaska State Park Preserve — Lake Minnewaska Gertrude …   Wikipedia

  • Connetquot River State Park Preserve — Southside Sportsmens Club District U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district …   Wikipedia

  • State Parks in New York — Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 State Parks 1.1 A 1.2 B 1.3 C 1.4 D …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of New York state parks — This is a list of state parks and state historic sites in the U.S. state of New York. Contents 1 Forest Preserve 2 State Parks 3 State Historic Sites 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Chimney Bluffs State Park — Chimney Bluffs, New York A 1907 postcard of Chi …   Wikipedia

  • Clarence Fahnestock State Park — A view of the park in Autumn. Pelton pond located in the park …   Wikipedia

  • Niagara Falls State Park — Niagara Reservation U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. National Historic Landmark …   Wikipedia

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park — For other places with the same name, see FDR State Park (disambiguation). Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is a state park in Westchester County, New York. It was formerly known as Mohansic Park and Mohansic State Park and is situated in Yorktown …   Wikipedia

  • Sterling Forest State Park — For the Michigan state park with a similar name, see Sterling State Park. Sterling Forest State Park is a 17,953 acre (71.8 km2) park located in the Ramapo Mountains in Orange County, New York established in 1998; it is among the larger… …   Wikipedia

  • Clark Reservation State Park — Glacier Lake and the cliff of the fossil waterfall in September. Clark Reservation State Park is a state park in Onondaga County, New York. The park is in the Town of DeWitt, south of Syracuse. It wa …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”