Notice: The Bike Library Program is closed for the season! Thank you all for a great season, until next time.
Shirley Chisholm State Park is named in honor of Shirley Chisholm, a Brooklyn-born trailblazer who was the first African American Congresswoman, as well as the first woman and African American to run for President.
Rising up 130 feet above sea level, this new park occupies some of the highest ground in New York City and offers spectacular panoramic views of the Empire State Building to the northwest, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and New York Harbor to the west, and Jamaica Bay to the south.The site, which has never been open to the public before, rests atop the former Pennsylvania and Fountain Avenue landfills. The Penn and Fountain landfills were operated by New York City Department of Sanitation from 1956 to 1983.
After the landfills were closed, the work to reclaim and repurpose the 407 acres of land as a future park began. The first steps were to install an impermeable plastic cap and a below-ground barrier to fully encapsulate the landfills and support future reuse. A below grade methane gas piping system was also installed throughout the property so that all off gassing is carried to the property's two flares.
More than 1.2 million cubic yards of clean soil - or enough to fill nearly 100,000 dump trucks - was spread up to four feet deep across the site. The site was then planted with more than 35,000 trees and shrubs, and native grassland species. This addition of prairie grass and native plants has created a diverse ecosystem of coastal meadows, wetlands, and woodlands that has attracted a variety of birds and other local wildlife. In addition, this lovely ecosystem works to protect the capped land and prevent erosion.
In 1974, the city deeded the land to the National Park Service as part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service and the City of New York, New York State Parks is developing and operating Shirley Chisholm State Park.
After years of anticipation, Shirley Chisholm State Park is now open 365 days per year, 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park offers:
Please help us take care of this wonderful park and respect the rules:
Pets are not allowed at Shirley Chisholm State Park.
Open year round, 8:00am - dusk.
NO Vehicle Use Fee!
Bike Library free!
Environmental education programs free!
You must register directly with the park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/149199542849
Meeting Location for all projects: All events will be on the Fountain Ave Side of Shirley Chisholm State Park at 950 Fountain Ave, Brooklyn NY 11239. For both events participants will meet at the picnic tables behind the blue trailer.
Project 1: Fountain Shoreline Cleanup
Participants will help clean the Fountain Shoreline of trash, garbage bags and pickers will be provided.
Participants will meet at the picnic tables behind the blue trailer.
Start time: 9:00AM
End time: 11:00AM
All ages welcome.
Bring garden gloves.
Project 2: Trail Maintenance
Participants will assist park staff with trail maintenance on the Fountain side of the park by raking and spreading gravel. Rakes and shovels will be provided.
Start time: 1:00PM
End time: 3:00PM
Appropriate for 13 and up
Bring garden gloves.
You must register directly with the park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/149211518669
Meeting Location: 1750 Pennsylvania Ave Brooklyn, NY 11239. Shoreline Cleanup Participants will meet at the Penn Contact Station near the front entry gate. Planter Box Weeding Participants will meet at Hendrix Creek Patio.
Project 1: Penn Shoreline Cleanup
Participants will cleanup trash along the Penn Shoreline, garbage bags and trash pickers will be provided. Participants will meet at the Penn Contact Station near the main entry gates.
Start time: 10:00AM
End time: 12:00PM
All ages welcome.
Bring garden gloves.
Project 2: Planter Box Weeding meet at Hendrix Creek Patio. Participants will pull weeds from Planter Boxes on Hendrix Creek Road. Participants will meet at the Hendrix Creek Patio
Start time: 1:30PM
End time: 2:30PM
All ages welcome
Bring garden gloves.