Alley Pond Environmental Center

Environmental center is nice and welcoming (that is when it’s open, only from 11am to 1pm on weekends), but ample parking lot is much appreciated. Would be good to have portable restrooms at the lot since center’s working hours are limited. Short boardwalk trail to observation deck leads to beautiful views of Alley Creek. I have hiked yellow 2.1 miles trail around the creek’s perimeter. It is seriously overgrown in parts in mid-July with ticks as prime beneficiaries of the fact. Otherwise, it is pretty scenic.

came here for a birthday party. it was a fun time. learned about some animals and did a couple walking trails. very cute for the kids.

What a nice little petting zoo and nature walk. I don’t remember paying anything. But we walked right in and were handed a bunny rabbit. Who ran away. But didn’t get far. Then we petted a turtle and an icky orange snake. They also had fish. And some event spaces, I think. Nice walk on a boardwalk into the marshland area. I saw a bird.

This is a nice local spot to bring your kids. The environmental center has a few small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, snakes, birds, etc. Depending on the time of day, you may be allowed to pet some of these animals. There are a couple of trails you can walk through, with lots of trees and marshes by the water. You can walk the entire trail in about 20 minutes. It is obviously beautiful during the summer with lush greenery all around. You can host a kid's birthday party at this venue for a very reasonable price. We have definitely been here before the renovation and are extremely happy with the new upgrades to this place. Looking forward to our next visit.

A great place to take your kids. I’ve been eyeing this Center since it was being built. Glad it’s finally opened! Nice nature trail through the back. I’m sure it will be even prettier as the weather warms up. The employees here are very friendly. One of them even offered the kids animal petting!

This is a super fun place to come with young children. You can enter free and see a lot of different types of animals up close in their cages such as birds, turtles, lizards, snakes, bunny rabbits, Guinea pigs, and much more! A neat educational experience for young ones.

The new bldg has all the amenities for class visits, the mini terrarium has a nice variety of birds and reptiles and there is a classroom experience for groups. The Douglaston windmill burnt down in 1988, the replica is in need of repair.

A hidden for families and environmental science lovers! This place is a community center that educated people about the local salt marshes and the preservation of natural spaces in NYC. The center has a display of small animals, including rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and programs for children. There are a few trails outside the center!

After 43 years of working with hundreds of environmental organizations as a well-known expert on edible/medicinal wild plants and mushrooms, and a 5-time author, is was the worst one I've ever encountered. In 1981, APEC official Kim Estes had me lead a foraging tour in the park. I did this free of charge. Everyone liked it so much they had me lead a second free tour. But when I began leading my own tours or came to learn the mushrooms (which are renewable, as you don't harm the fungus the produces the mushrooms), the director, Aline Euler, would emerge screaming at me, and called the police. I ran into Estes at a health fair in the early 1980s, and she politely told me she'd do everything in her power to oppose my work. Then she promptly left APEC and disappeared into the corporate world, but I'll continue looking over my shoulder for her in the next life! In 1986, I began teaching foraging through the NYC Parks Dept. We had an office in the APEC building, where I parked my bicycle. A foraging tour I led that was supposed to end at 4 PM ran over and ended at 4:01 PM, so they gleefully locked their door, wouldn't let me retrieve my bicycle, and complained bitterly to the Parks Dept. that I left my bike in their empty building overnight. I had to spend 90 minutes on public transportation to get home, and another 90 minutes the next day to recover my bike. After I left the Parks Dept. in 1990, they wouldn't let my participants park in their parking lot for my tours, even when it was empty. Their school tours are all hands-off. Kids march in and out of the park in straight lines, with no contact with nature, a big turn-off. They have small animals confined in tiny cages, to attract kids--very cruel to the animals. They remain vehemently opposed to the science of mycology (mushrooms). I strongly urge you to avoid having anything to do with this reprehensible organization!

This review is for the Parks Department outdoor tennis courts. They are kept clean with less cracks than many of the Parks tennis courts I have seen. Less crowded than Astoria Park tennis courts:-) Get your courts permit for the season which starts the first week of April.

Beautiful park! Trails are pretty clearly marked! Bathrooms are cleaned and I saw a guy appearing to be sanitizing the women's room. During warmer weather, you will see everything from tai-chi classes, yoga, zumba, volleyball, soccer, bird watching, Frisbee etc. This is a great meeting location for all that love the outdoors and being active. The NYC Parks Department usually list all the activities on their website. Also a good spot for barbecuing or picnicking. The grills and tables are provided.

The girl who ran my friends party was lovely. She was super informative and sweet. Unfortunately she didn't know how to run a spa party. It took forever. Luckily they let us stay a little longer to make up for it. But it meant the girls got a very fast nature walk/bingo instead of a leisurely walk. To do a spa party there should definitely be 2 attendants. It's not fair to one person to have to measure out/mix the spa supplies. What was freaky frustrating is that there weren't enough supplies. This is why they're only getting 3 stars. The young woman measuring out everything had 3 tables to do. The first table got almost full containers of witch hazel and scent. The second table got about half way full containers. And the third table got nothing. She ran out of witch hazel. So she had to go back to the first table and hope some of the girls would be willing to share. That's awful. These girls were so excited. If there's not enough to go around the. It should be the facility who has to get more. That wasn't right at all! The two animals were so cute. And the building was good as in the room was a nice size for about 15-20 kids plus some adults. They had 3 parties going on at the same time. I don't know if it's expensive the paper said it's over 300 for 2 hours. It sounds like a lot but it might be cheap or on par compared to other places.

This is the review for the environmental center located inside Alley Pond. Soon as we entered we were greeted by one of the staff at the door; who informed us to sign-in and do our temperature check. We were then given pamphlets and maps of the surrounding trails to the park. Center has a small one room animal sanctuary (air conditioned room), where they housed many different exotic animals and reptiles. Guests are allowed to walk around and take pictures of the caged animals as long as we don't touch them. Would've hoped for a tour guide, but reservation is needed. The walk around takes about 15 minutes and we were done. What got the five star review is the bathroom at the center; its kept clean, with small stepping stools specifically for kids, and even the sink is at a lower catering to children. This center is an added great perk to the park. Also, its right adjacent to the parking lot.

The new grounds are lovely. The animals are kept in very small cages which is concerning. The staff was rude and unfortunately that's a huge turnoff for me. I will try again one day in the future because I am a local and looked forward to this reopening for a long time.

Cute place to visit. Check the website for visitor center hours and keep in mind that although the center is closed, the trails are still open. There's a small room with some animals: rabbits, chinchillas​, snakes, turtles, etc. Also, some short quiet trails with a few benches situated next to the water. This place is great for kids. I saw a Boys Scout Troop receiving a tour of the trails and witnessed older couples walking the trails. Price: free but donations accepted. Notes: Restrooms on site Free and ample parking

My son and I love to come here when the weather is nice. The walking paths lead back into the swamps and lush bushes and trees. Be careful though there is poison ivy all around. I've been many times and never touched it but just be cautious. The trail winds back through trees and over bridges and wetlands. In the very back is a pond with tons of turtles poking there heads out of the water and sun bathing. If you get hot or tired you can relax on one of the benches scattered around. Bring a book, relax, enjoy a spot you don't find in NYC. This place is a gem. There is also a playground and inside there are small animals if you have young children.

Had my son's 3rd and daughter's 1st birthday party here. We had a great time and received great feedback from our guests. Their birthday celebration started with an art activity. I selected the option for them to plant a seed so that they can take the flower pot home to watch it grow. We then went for a walk which had great views but I imagine the summer is best to see animals in their own habitat. Once back, the birthday boy and girl got to select 3 animals to take back to the rug for their guest to see, touch and watch walk around. So much fun! I would definitely consider another birthday party here!

Great, local educational center. Been here many times for field trips and birthday parties. Instructor Ms. Joan Golden is amazing with the children during field trips. Such a strong educator and engages/manages the children so well!

Nice park located right off Northern Blvd and abutting the 24 hour traffic jam that is the Cross Island Pkwy on the Douglaston/ Bayside boarder offers a mini oasis in eastern Queens. The nature center located right in front teaches a bit about the park, its wildlife and fauna and they even host private events. It's free to enter which is a huge plus. The park itself offers trails through the marshes south of Little Neck Bay and there's even a windmill. The park is a decent size and pleasant for a hike. Just watch out because I saw quite a bit of poison ivy along the trails so be mindful where you tread. I like this park and recommend it.

My daughter has been taking classes here since she was 4 years old and she's 9 now. They do an excellent jobs with birthday parties. They have an Animal party theme where the birthday child gets to take out 3 animals of their choosing for the instructor to talk about. The children each get a turn to pet the small animal. They also get to go on a small nature hike and do a nature themed craft. The place also has tween themed parties as well. My daughter loved her spa tween party we had for her this Summer. All her friends had a great time and it was held in their log cabin. The girls got to do natural facials, meditation and yoga. There is another tween themed Science party as an option as well. The cost is very affordable. We paid $275.00 for this last party we had there. You are however responsible for the food and cake. The entertainment and environment makes up for all of that though. My daughter was, there this, past Saturday as well. I signed her up for a Young Chefs class, which was Halloween themed. The kids made a Candy Halloween House! Animal care classes for children and tween yoga classes are also offered. Adult classes are also offered such as yoga and cooking classes. Be sure to stop in for a pamphlet of their classes or look them up online. Alley Pond Park environmental center has something for everyone!

this place is so serene. I do think the center's offerings have declined in the last 2 years. I hope they don't have a greedy board. A class we were enrolled in was cancelled back then and I've never gotten new info on multiple classes anymore. But lots of info on collecting donations. It's a gem and I hope the right people are in place to keep it thriving for years to come!

Alley Pond Park is more than 655 acres of trees, water marshes, meadows, hills, and trails. It occupies part of a terminal moraine that was formed by a glacier roughly 15,000 years ago, and features kettle ponds formed by melting ice and natural springs. Though located near the Long Island Expressway, in the spring, pollen fills the air, and flowers bloom everywhere. In the summer, frogs and salamanders sun themselves on tree branches and rocks in the ponds. In the fall, birds of all feathers pass through. And in the winter, raccoon tracks can be found in the snow. The Alley Pond Environment Center is a nonprofit that operates a building where visitors can learn about the local wetlands and trails as well as nature on the whole. The center is dedicated to educating individuals about the environment, protecting and preserving the park, open spaces and bodies of water, and advocating for sustainable environmental policies and practices. Inside scoop: The Douglaston Estate Windmill is in Alley Pond Park. Built around 1870, it pumped water to nearby farms. The original windmill was converted into a two-room house in the early 1900s, when the borough's population spiked. But in 1985, a group of local residents constructed a working replica that pumps fresh water from the ground that the park uses. Address: 228-06 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, and www.alleypond.com.

This was great. I was here for a birthday party They had live animals for the children to learn and touch. staff person was knowledgeable and sweet A nature walk in the park I thoroughly enjoyed myself Two hour program. Loved it

When you venture here, you get that sense of adventure. Biking in this park last year was fun. Last week I jogged a bit, it's nicer when the trees are full of leaves, but hey in a couple more months, they'll be there. Most of the paths are paved and you get glimpses of people's houses as you jog by. It's a very large park and I'm so glad a beautiful park like this is in Queens.

The center is a great place to go when you are in the area. Its breathtaking and lovely. They even have programs for kids.

They have a beautiful lake but I have to give it 3 stars because I spotted a few rats there. I know it's NY and they're everywhere but Its gross.

Absolutely a beautiful park. Alley Pond Park also provides us with glimpses into the truest view of how Queens was: Swamp and Meadows. The way they've organized the roads and trails around these areas of nature is spectacular. I'm not saying this is better than Central Park, but it is different in that Central Park is 100% Man thought up and designed. Alley Pond Park was naturally this way and then Man came and built around it. If it is a glimpse of the wildlife of New York's past that you want to see, then this is it.

Yay Alley Pond Park! We had our field day here in high school. What this meant was they threw a bunch of city kids on a bus and took us out to commune with "nature". What this really mean was we shuffled around the park in our usual cliques and some people snuck off behind rocks to smoke cigarettes and then there was some BBQ action and then we went home. But hey, still better than a day of classes! Nowadays when I think about it, I realize how pretty of a park it was, but between Riverside and Central parks, I am pretty well covered park-wise!

It truly is a beautiful place. Like reviewer Stephen B. says, the only downside is the background traffic noise. However, once you take in the park, the cars pretty much fade away from being heard.

We went there yesterday and it has a very nice (and large) expanse of trees, marshes & water. There's also an Environmental Center (a Visitors Center) and the receptionist was very pleasant. First we walked along the (short) boardwalk which extends out to the water, and then we walked along one of the trails (1.3 miles in each direction). Aside from the constant roar of traffic from the Cross-Island Parkway, you'd never know you're within the NYC limits; it's all very pristine and peaceful. Also; there were two busloads of second-graders from two different schools being guided around the grounds and the children were really enthralled, so it was charming to see that. The only negative was the increasingly-poor condition of the trail as we got farther away from the Visitors Center. In fact, it became a little treacherous to continue walking and we finally turned back. Still, I certainly recommend visiting the park.

I like to park here and eat with my friends but mostly with my boyfriend. During the first few weeks that we talked and met, this was one of the places that we went to. We parked near the pond and talked for an hour. It's a nice and romantic place. But now it's under construction and will be open I believe in March 2015.

So many memories of coming here as a kid and learning about wildlife and nature! So proud to live close to such a local gem, and I find it so great that people still continue to support it and frequent it! We need more places like this!

Good environment for kids, morning clases are available, my daughter has ben coming here since september to bunny class, she learn alot. They do a little nature walk outside the garden. Reasonable price for the job they do.

We have eaten here a bunch of times. Most of the time it is not crowded and you can pick your table. The menu is not huge, but there are good sports bar selections and the food is very good. There are sandwiches, apps and some varied full entrees. As mentioned the food is very good, but the service is lacking. The wait staff is pleasant but understaffed. The bartender is the hostess is the waiter. When there are a few tables going and some bar customers you can wait a while for service and refills on drinks. I recommend the Cuban sandwich. Also the buffalo wings are fried and then finished on the grill which is a nice touch. The sauce is tasty and with the grill marks the texture is appetizing as well. If you are looking for a family experience there is a little known mini golf course in the golf center as well. The obstacles are basic, but a good experience for young kids who want to try "golf." Furthermore they run a happy hour which is 50% off until 7pm, so it's definitely a bargain for dinner or a couple cocktails after hitting the driving range.

This review is for the bike paths because that's the only things we made use of at this park. I used to come with my family when I was younger. We would always go on a Sunday morning and pack sandwhiches. It was my immediate family obviously, and my cousins and their parents. It was so fun and we would ride from bellerose to flushing all on a guided path and then we'd stop and take a break for lunch, and continue on. Great spot to take the kids. Gets everyone out of the house and biking is a healthy alternative to most of todays activities like movies and fast food.

I've run in this park for years and year. I love this park, how long it is, how big it is. There are fields for BBQ and picnics. There's a new adventure course, that looks interesting. I've run a 5K and a 5 mile race here. I've run, biked, played Frisbee in the field, had a BBQ. I plan my bike rides, and runs to go through here. What a wonderful thing green space is in the city. My only wish is that you didn't always hear cars in the big fat bit, on the trails. The Cross Island and the Grand Central Parkway border it there. The old motor way that's now a path is the best part, as I shoots up and down suburban hills. I fantasize about living close and walking here every day.

***POISON IVY ALERT*** I had heard so many good things about the Alley Pond Environmental Center, and was looking forward to taking my two children there. We arrived mid-afternoon on a weekday, and noticed a sign at the trail head warning us of ticks. We had walked about halfway through the trail before I noticed a smaller sign off to the side - a sign discussing the identification of poison ivy. I realized the sign was in the middle of a huge crop of poison ivy, and as I looked around, I could see that much of the trail we had just walked through was also lined, up and down, with poison ivy. One of my children is highly allergic to poison ivy and his last exposure required a 5 day course of steroids and antihistamines - for some people, it's much more than just an annoying, itchy rash. After an exposure, you have a limited amount of time to try to remove the oil, so we walked out immediately, and I attempted to wipe down as much of the kids' hands, arms, legs and shoes as possible. I went inside to speak to someone about the issue, and the women at the front desk pointed to a sign (posted on the inside of the door) with pictures of poison ivy. I suggested that it would be FAR more useful to post this sign at the trail head, as I would never have hiked in with my kids had I known there was so much poison ivy along the paths. I will be honest - I did not closely examine the pathways before hiking in (as I should have) because I have never encountered a path in a park in NYC that had so much poison ivy. The rest of the parks and nature centers in the area seem to go out of their way to remove poison ivy, and I assumed that Alley Pond would be - if anything - even more cautious, as they're supposed to be one of the top nature destinations for children in NYC. Needless to say, we're very disappointed and will not be returning.

This is a hidden gem within Eastern Queens. The environmental center has a host of small animals including rabbits, lizards, fishes, birds, and even these terrestial turtles that walk around outdoors in the spring and summer. In the back of the environmental is a huge swatch of walkable nature with raised wooden trails and the sound of animals. We've come already more than 5 times this summer with our 4 year old son.

Had my daughter's 5th birthday here. Fantastic price, and a very fun alternative to the traditional kids' party. Even the grownups said they had a blast. Party involves the birthday child choosing three animals to interact with, plus a secret animal that turned out to be a HUGE tortoise!! The children sat in a circle and got to hold and interact with all the animals and learn something about them. The birthday child picked which nature craft she would like to do- the guinea pig. The instructor even brought over a real-live guinea pig to pet on the table during the craft! A nature walk was included where the instructor pointed out squirrel nests, animal tracks, and the like. It's bring your own food, but I find I like that better because it's not the same old pizza and juice. We ended up doing a 10AM party and bringing bagels and baked goods, and brought my mom's Keurig coffee maker for all the grownups- a big hit. A very enjoyable experience for the kids and grownups alike.