Cross Island Parkway natural areas

Whitestone Exwy. at 13 Ave. to the Linden Blvd and the Belt Pkwy.

The narrow bank of natural areas, totaling 49 acres along the Cross Island Parkway, border Little Neck Bay and include tidally-inundated shoreline and salt marsh habitats. These natural areas serve as a connector between the larger natural areas in Fort Totten Park to the north and Alley Pond Park to the south. Tidal wetlands in this area are a mix of salt marsh grasses and Phragmites australis.

Sea level rise threatens these fringing marshes and NYC Parks is working to restore them, as in the living shoreline restoration in adjacent parts of Alley Pond Park. Cyclists and joggers can observe these natural areas along Joe Michaels Mile.