Shirley Chisholm State Park

This park has great sensory and lovely views and trails that people can take. It's enjoyable for people of all ages and has programs that all people to learn different things related to the park.

I enjoy hiking and walking along nature trails , something about the scenic views is relaxing to me. That being said , I headed out to Shirley Chisholm State Park for a walk.

There are two entrances to the park from the Belt Parkway, Pennsylvania Ave & Erskine Ave. , both sides offer free parking. Park hours are 8:00 - 6:00pm daily. I got there early, the weather was hot and humid. I should have read the trail signs for distance and miles , It seems I choose the longest route

There are tables with umbrellas and shaded rest spots. Free bike library Thursday - Sunday. Majority of the area is pebbles and grass be careful of ticks.
The tide was low and the smell of the bay was in the air. Welp ! The great outdoors.

Happy hiking !

Was here for the Black Men Run 5k, such a beautiful and large park. Ran through the park and enjoyed seeing all of the nature. Will definitely be back to see the park - it is so beautiful

I've never hiked a day in my life and for some odd reason I had the urge to do so earlier this week.

I came here on a Tuesday sunshining morning ready to conquer the land. Music blared from my headphones as I trekked the Red Tail Trail. Encountered a butterfly -- when's the last time you've seen a butterfly? The water views are great and peaceful. There are several benches that overlook the water and is the perfect place to journal, eat lunch or just sit still. If the park had Wi-Fi, it'd be an awesome place for remote work.

I did notice most of the grass is overgrown and dry. I understand the summer heat plays a role but I do wonder if this is a common sight when hiking. Also, let's not forget what can be hidden in overgrown grass -- wildlife. Hence why I don't hike, wildlife and I aren't friends. Nope!

Nonetheless, I'm glad I did my first trail. It was a calming moment before the start of my day.

Starting the year off right. If you are looking for an urban hike there are plenty of hiking trails at Shirley Chisholm. The park Is spilt into two parts so just try to identify which trial loop you are want to do so you know which entrance of the park to enter. All the trials there are on the easy scale but they vary in distance. The trial is clearly defined and has small gravel rocks. You can hike here with sneakers. Park begins to close shortly before sunset.

In honor of Earth day, I decided to review Shirley Chisholm State Park. I grew up with Prospect Park as my backyard which definitely help cultivate my love of parks. I vividly remember the summer that I learned to ride my bike without training wheels in "my backyard". Now fast forward to last summer, it's the joy that I get from bike riding that brought me to Shirley Chisholm along with the amazing pictures that other Yelpers posted.

It's the 21st century, so man-made parks are definitely a reality. They did a really good job with this one. The varied trials that they were able to craft from this former wasteland is nothing short of amazing. The beautiful panoramic views witnessed here can't be duplicated anywhere else in Brooklyn. In addition to a great location for an outdoor photo shoot, it's also a great venue fora myriad of outdoor events like a family bbq, romantic picnic or small child's birthday party.

Shoutouts go to the park staff especially those at the Bike Library who are always so helpful. I had not rode a bike in several years but my last couple bike rides have been on a bike rented from here. The paperwork is lengthy but can be filled out in advance online. There were so many different bikes and helmets to choose from that you're sure to find one that suits your needs. Whether you stay on the trails in the park or head up and down the path parallel to the Belt Parkway, you're sure to get a good workout in.

Want to shake things up and re-acquaint yourself with the beauty of Brooklyn, head to Shirley Chisholm State Park.

Overall: This is a great park for several things! Great for large groups, a cycling crew, or a couple on an active or romantic picnic date. You can go for a walk, hike, bike ride, picnic, and water watching. It's free and there's a parking lot. It is a huge state park, I believe one of the largest in NYC. There's a bike trail (Shore Pkwy) starting from Queens all the way to Brooklyn and running along different neighborhoods in BK.

The Good: Did I mention there's a parking lot? Amazing bike path - Shore Pkwy runs along it. The outer loop of the first side of the State Park is about 2.5 miles. When you cross over the bridge there's another .5-mile path to ride a bike. The rest of the trails are dirt and rock so be mindful of that. I only like to ride my bike on smooth paths. Perfect for an afternoon walk/hike or jog! The picnic table areas are throughout and the water views are peaceful! Waterfront area for fishing.

The Bad: I wouldn't say there's anything bad, I wish it had more paved paths for bikes. The water view is great but the inner views of the park are mehhh lol, it's not like a luscious green park with huge trees and water fountains. It's no central park.

Must-try: Definitely would vote this State Park as a must do. Pack the kids up or the bike and check it out!

Beautiful views of Jamaica Bay. Parking is very tight and the Park is not necessarily easy to reach by mass transit. That aside, the trails are well marked and the staff are helpful. It's amazing to consider that the park was formerly a NYC landfill/dump.
Both sections of the Park are hilly. The eastern ("Fountain") side of the park is larger, road noise from the Belt Parkway fades quickly. We walked the perimeter of both sections, about 4.5 miles. Lots of birds and small wildlife.
Note that perimeter trail is primarily paved, however the trails in the "Penn" portion of the park are principally gravel.
No dogs.
No kites.
Limited services (though abundant port-a-potties where you would expect them).

Visit Date: January 17, 2021

I came here on a maybe date. I wasn't sure if it was a date but I was meeting a guy I knew on facebook who I was sure I've never seen in person before although we had mutual friends and went to the same high school so I thought it might be a date but there was no flirting going on while we planned the date so I wasn't sure. Anyway we agreed to hike this park together. This park is beautiful. There aren't many woodsy trails but it's pretty walking on the paths, and the grass and even prettier when you get near the beach and the water. I had a good time on the hike but my hiking buddy and I we had awful sense of direction so we walked the same path a few times until we got back to my car. This is definitely a worthwhile park to check out in the 5 boroughs area.

Great place to go for a stroll, bike, fish and just have a nice family time. It's up to you if you want a relaxing stroll or an intense work out with a long walk, run or ride. There are multiple entrances for different routes so you can switch it up to keep it interesting.