Forest Park natural areas

The 310-acre Forest Park natural area on the east side of Forest Park is home to some of the last truly undisturbed forest in New York City. The largest portion of this natural area consists of dense, mature oak forest. Measuring 165 acres, this forest is the largest continuous wooded area in Queens and contains many trees that are over 150 years old. Along with towering oaks and a full complement of hickory species (mockernut, pignut, bitternut, and shagbark), this forest ecosystem includes a midstory of flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida), mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), and a diverse herb layer on the forest floor. The age and quality of this forest make it an ideal spot for birding, especially during the fall and spring migrations, when rarities such as cerulean (Cetophaga cerulea), yellow-throated (Setophaga dominica), and mourning warblers (Geothlypis philadelphia) can be spotted. More than 10 miles of trails provide a tranquil escape from the bustling city.

NYC Parks and the Forest Park Trust partner to care for the natural areas within Forest Park, including Strack Pond, the Historic Pine Grove, and the mature stands of oak and hickory. Strack Pond is a restored kettle pond that formed as the last glacier withdrew from our region approximately 15,000 years ago. Small kettle ponds teeming with wetland plants and shrubs once dotted the landscape of Forest Park, providing habitat for unique wildlife including salamanders, frogs, birds and other animals.