Why you should experience Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn, NY.
Shirley Chisholm State Park is a transformative waterfront park where Spring Creek's environmental renewal, sweeping Jamaica Bay landscapes, and commitment to public access have created New York City's largest state park.
Set along Pennsylvania Avenue near Flatlands Avenue and just steps from Jamaica Bay, this expansive coastal park anchors Brooklyn's southeastern shoreline with panoramic overlooks, restored grasslands, waterfront trails, and elevated landscapes that reveal an entirely new perspective of the city. Built atop reclaimed landfill overlooking the bay, the park represents one of New York's most ambitious environmental restoration projects, transforming formerly inaccessible industrial land into hundreds of acres of public open space. Scenic bike paths, nature trails, ecological habitats, and spectacular harbor vistas create an experience that feels remarkably removed from the surrounding city while remaining unmistakably Brooklyn. Today, the park stands as both a tribute to Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and a powerful example of environmental resilience, civic investment, and community renewal.
What you should know about Shirley Chisholm State Park.
Shirley Chisholm State Park is best known for opening in 2019 as New York City's largest state park, transforming 407 acres of former Pennsylvania and Fountain Avenue landfills into a restored waterfront landscape with more than 10 miles of trails, over 35,000 newly planted trees and shrubs, and some of the highest public viewpoints in Brooklyn.
Developed through a decades-long environmental reclamation effort, the site required extensive engineering to cap the former landfills, install methane collection systems, and restore the landscape with more than 1.2 million cubic yards of clean soil before becoming accessible to the public. Named in honor of Brooklyn-born trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first Black candidate to seek a major-party presidential nomination, the park now serves as a model for ecological restoration, outdoor recreation, and environmental education while providing sweeping views across Jamaica Bay, New York Harbor, and the Manhattan skyline.
How to fold Shirley Chisholm State Park into your trip.
Shirley Chisholm State Park is best experienced during the late morning or afternoon, when the elevated overlooks, waterfront trails, and expansive meadows invite unhurried exploration along Jamaica Bay.
Begin by walking or cycling through the park's scenic trail network before pausing at the waterfront overlooks to take in panoramic views stretching across the bay and toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Afterward, continue into Gateway National Recreation Area, where coastal habitats and wildlife offer a deeper appreciation of the surrounding estuary before making your way to Spring Creek Park for additional shoreline trails and marshland scenery. If time allows, conclude your afternoon at the Pennsylvania Avenue Pier, where fishing, birdwatching, and unobstructed harbor views provide a memorable finale to the day. The surrounding landscape rewards slow exploration, with coastal ecosystems, restored wetlands, native grasslands, and waterfront vistas revealing one of Brooklyn's most remarkable environmental success stories.
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