Powell's Cove natural area

11 Ave. bet. 130 St., Powell's Cove Blvd. and 138 Pl., 9 Ave.

Powell’s Cove Park, within the College Point neighborhood of northern Queens, hugs the south and west shoreline of Powell’s Cove, with stunning views of the East River and the Whitestone Bridge. The upland areas include informal trails and paths winding through a dense forest with a mix of native and introduced vegetation. Transitional scrub-shrub vegetation grows closer to the shoreline such as fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), juneberries (Amelanchier canadensis), and choke cherries (Prunus virginiana).

Park users enjoy the peaceful setting and the winding walking trails. A steep bank drops down to the water’s edge where fringing low marsh wetlands give way to a broad intertidal mudflat and the waters of the western Long Island Sound. Some visitors also seek out the park to access the water’s edge for fishing (although crabbing and collecting shellfish is prohibited due to contaminants and human health concerns). Wading birds such as snowy egrets (Egretta thula) and yellow-crowned night herons (Nyctanassa violacea) can be seen foraging in the cove’s shallow waters, while Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus), northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), and mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are commonly observed in the upland.

In 2022, a parcel of land at the park’s northern edge was added to the park. A capital project will restore habitat and provide public access to this parcel with a new entrance from Powell’s Cove Boulevard. New amenities will include an accessible outdoor classroom and gathering space with a get-down at the water’s edge, several viewpoints with seating, as well as improved trail surfaces connecting the park addition to the existing park.