Latourette Park — Attraction in New York

I came here to explore and clear my head on my lunch break, and just how in the world did I not know about this place before???

My little hike started with balancing on stones to cross a small creek and then locating the entrance to the trails in a local neighborhood. This was followed by an excellent, very steep, heart-pumping climb to the top of the "mountain". After about another 1/2 a mile I came to the LaTourette Golf Course and cut across a small parking lot.

In the next leg of the hike, I encountered many deer, robins, woodpeckers, big blue jays. bright red cardinals & squirrels. There was a section of the park which turned out to be burned down, I am not even sure if the FDNY is aware of this.

I really enjoyed the solace of this place and the way the birds sings and calls echo throughout the forest. There are large trees, some of the largest I have seen on Staten Island. Please be aware of the abundance of poison ivy - stick...

Staten Island Zoo is accessible by bus, and some parking available nearby. Take your children under 12! Has a carousel, kid friendly set up, some space for picnics. The staff is friendly. Unlike the Bronx Zoo, this can be easily seen in half a day and is very family friendly. Has a small gift shop. Did you know that Groundhog Staten Island Chuck resides here? He has his own "condo". See the llamas, sheep, small deer, peacocks, and a surprising selection of reptiles, and a few monkeys and crocodiles!

Only upgrade needed: Restrooms were ok, I visited on a Sat. when it was very busy. Hand sanitizer containers...

The parking lot is atrocious, but to be fair only 60% of it is. Hope you have a good suspension, drive slow if you value keeping it that way.

The range needs lots of TLC, repairs, and softer mats. I'd love to see overhead bays to keep the sun off your back in the mornings and out your eyes in the afternoon. Also, more balls and buckets to carry them.

The chipping and putting area is nice. Would love to see a practice sand trap here.

The course is good, and is a fair value...