Independence Park

Independence Park is a 2.5-acre park on Hylan Boulevard near Davis Avenue in the Dongan Hills section of Staten Island. The park provides recreation space in a residential neighborhood on the island's eastern shore.

Dongan Hills takes its name from Thomas Dongan, the colonial governor of New York who issued the Dongan Charter in 1686, a foundational document that established the rights and governance structure of the colonial city. The neighborhood's naming connects it to the earliest era of organized government in New York.

The park features a playground, basketball courts, and open green areas. Its location along Hylan Boulevard places it within the commercial corridor that serves the eastern shore neighborhoods, making it accessible to residents and passersby.

The eastern shore of Staten Island offers views across Lower New York Bay and proximity to the island's beaches, giving the surrounding neighborhoods a maritime character that distinguishes them from the more inland communities of central Staten Island.

Independence Park serves the everyday recreation needs of a residential community whose colonial-era place name connects it to the foundations of governance in New York City.