Fort Wadsworth - Gateway National Recreation Area — Attraction in New York

We had a very bad experience at Fort Wadsworth.

I would give them zero star if possible. We used to combine 22 players from two different United Methodist churches in Brooklyn and come to Fort Wadsworth after church on Sunday to play cricket for two weeks. We always noticed that park police kept an eye on us about what we were doing. On the third Sunday, when we came to Fort, there was a basketball court on Hudson Road right next to where we played cricket. My friend dropped his son there for him to play basketball and all of a sudden lady park ranger came and stopped behind our car. She said this is a “private property” and you can't play basketball here. My friend asked his son to come back in the car and we were leaving. Lady said you can't go like that, since you pulled over on the side of the road, I will go first, then you go. I am not sure which employee manual of National Park Service teaches that rule. She was showing her authority to us, though we followed what she said. First of all, it is not a private property, but it is a property National Park Service and says it is off limits to public rather than private property. She went back to her office and we started playing cricket. The next thing is, within 5 minutes, police came and stopped our play. Police officer said, "You can only play here if you have a permit." Police officer even said that they got a call from Park Ranger complaining about our game. I am not surprise, that same lady went back and called police. Police officer said he understood that you all were playing a sport, but if you guys don’t go, then they would get a phone call again.

National Park Service should post a sign on Hudson Rd stating that permits are required for using this ground. There was no clear sign posted for permits. In winter, the same hills are used for sledding in snow week after week, I hope National Park Service is asking for permits at that time.

Cc: U.S. Department of the Interior National...

I visited this fort with a walking tour group and had a great visit. It was a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest continually garrisoned military installation in the United States.

Today it is managed by the National Parks Service and is open to the public as part of the Gateway National Recreational Area. We were able to get a park ranger give us a tour of inside the fort which was educational and cool. Admission is free.

The weather was beautiful and the views of the Verrazano bridge and water were amazing. We did see a few people walking around or sitting on benches enjoying the scenery surrounding the fort.

Definitely a different and cool place to...

I love Ft. Wadsworth. I'm not a big city person, and Ft. Wadsworth gives me the space I need to enjoy living near the big city, going over to Manhattan daily, retiring to my quiet place in the evenings. It's old, and, as with so many gov't places, the recent face lift never touched the plumbing. The tub is clean, though, albeit ancient, for showers and there's no shortage of hot water. I am referring to the Coast Guard Guest Quarters. The fort is undergoing changes. The park police horses are gone somewhere. Battery Weed lies below the heights in desolate eminence below the grandeur of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Dwarfed on the horizon lie the skyscrapers. The city may never sleep but Staten Island does, and snug away from the bright...