Willowbrook Park

Willowbrook Park is a 214.95-acre park in the Willowbrook section of central Staten Island, forming the eastern section of the Staten Island Greenbelt. The park features a lake, athletic facilities, and extensive natural areas that make it one of the most versatile parks on the island.

Willowbrook Lake, the park's centerpiece, provides opportunities for fishing, nature observation, and lakeside walking. The lake's wooded shores and open water attract waterfowl, turtles, and other wildlife that add natural interest to the park's recreational offerings.

The park includes a carousel (one of only a few operational carousels in the city's parks), a playground, athletic fields, basketball courts, a running track, and connections to the Greenbelt trail system. The carousel is a beloved family attraction that draws visitors from across the island.

Willowbrook's name also carries a painful history: the Willowbrook State School, a now-demolished institution for people with developmental disabilities, operated nearby from 1947 to 1987. A 1972 expose by reporter Geraldo Rivera revealed horrific conditions at the facility, leading to landmark reforms in the care of people with disabilities.

Willowbrook Park serves as a gateway to the Greenbelt for the communities of central Staten Island, providing both structured recreation facilities and access to the trail network that threads through 2,800 acres of preserved forest and wetland.