Edith G Read Natural Park And Wildlife Sanctuary

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Edith G.


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Summary

Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a 179-acre park located in Rye, New York, just across the border from Greenwich, Connecticut. The park is home to a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, wetlands, and rocky shorelines.

There are several good reasons to visit Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is a great place for hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and picnicking. Visitors can also enjoy scenic views of the Long Island Sound and the Manhattan skyline.

Some specific points of interest to see in the park include the salt marsh, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including egrets, herons, and ospreys. Visitors can also explore the rocky shoreline, which features tide pools and interesting rock formations.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former landfill, which was transformed into a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s. The park is also home to several rare plant species, including the sandplain blue-eyed grass and the seaside goldenrod.

The best time of year to visit Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and wildlife activity is high. Visitors should also be aware that the park is closed during the winter months.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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