William T. Davis Refuge at Freshkills Park

The William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern part of Freshkills Park. The refuge has a long history, being the first designated wildlife preserve in New York. It currently stands at 814 acres, making it the sixth largest park in New York City, and only 30 acres smaller than Central Park. This expansive area is a great place to enjoy some fresh air and exercise with your canine companion. 

Parking for the wildlife preserve can be found near the intersection of Travis and Richmond Avenues. Here you'll also find the United for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. This center is dedicated to caring for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife so they can be returned to their natural habitats in the wild. Just as the parks namesake renowned naturalist William T. Davis would have wanted, this center also serves the purpose of helping Staten Islanders appreciate the natural habitats of where they live. 

Within the park's acreage, you'll find salt marshes, forested uplands, swamp forests and small spring-fed ponds. You and your doggo can explore the area by means of a nature path. This area not only provides gorgeous scenery and a place to get away from it all, but it serves a practical purpose as well, and provides water pollution filtration and a natural flood control system to the surrounding community. A large variety of creatures call this park their home, from herons, to muskrats, to snapping turtles. You may come across some of these animals on your travels, and you're sure to forget you're anywhere near the big city. 

Puppers are welcome to join their humans on the fun in this park, as long as a couple rules are followed. These include keeping your pal leashed and picked up after, and making sure they stay respectful towards all, including the wildlife. 

Exploring the William T. Davis Refuge with their human is sure to put a wag in your dog's tail!