Clove Lakes Park
Rate this placeNearby: Westerleigh Park Hero Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Clove Lakes Park is a beautiful recreational area located in Staten Island, New York.
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Summary
Although it is technically part of New York City, it is located just across the water from New Jersey and is a popular destination for residents of the Garden State.
There are a variety of reasons to visit Clove Lakes Park. For nature lovers, the park offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is home to several lakes, including Clove Lake, Martling Lake, and Brooks Lake, which are perfect for boating and fishing. There are also several hiking trails that wind through the park, offering stunning views of the surrounding forest.
One of the most popular points of interest in Clove Lakes Park is the Staten Island Zoo, which is located within the park's boundaries. The zoo is home to a variety of animals, including tigers, snakes, and kangaroos. Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo and a children's playground.
Interesting facts about Clove Lakes Park include its history as a Native American hunting ground and its use as a Revolutionary War encampment. The park was officially established in 1917 and has been a popular destination for New Yorkers ever since.
The best time of year to visit Clove Lakes Park depends on your interests. Summer is a great time for boating and swimming, while fall offers stunning foliage and cooler temperatures for hiking. Winter sports like ice skating and cross-country skiing are popular in the colder months.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
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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