Last Chance Pond Park: A Family Guide (Staten Island, NY)
Last Chance Pond Park is a small, peaceful green space in the Dongan Hills area of Staten Island, built around a pond that draws ducks and birds, making it a gentle favorite with the youngest kids.
Overview
The park is a modest, natural pocket where a pond sits at the center, ringed by paths and trees that make for easy birdwatching and duck-spotting. Families can take a slow loop around the water, pause to watch the ducks, and let little ones soak in the calm, which makes it more of a quiet nature stop than a busy playground day.
Why Kids Love It (and What They Learn)
Gross Motor Skills: The paths around the pond give children room to walk, toddle, and explore at their own pace in an easy, contained setting.
Cooperative Play: Spotting ducks and birds together and sharing the discoveries around the pond give children simple, natural chances to play and pay attention as a group.
Happy Day Play’s Tips and Tricks
Come in the morning when the pond is calmest and the birds are most active, and bring binoculars or a bird guide if your kids are into spotting wildlife.
This is a short stop rather than a full outing, so it pairs well with a nearby playground or errand.
Pack your own water and snacks since there is no food on site, and please skip feeding the ducks bread, which is not good for them, and enjoy watching instead.
Know Before You Go
General Admission: Free (NYC public park, Dongan Hills)
Add-Ons: None
Stroller Friendly: Yes
Nursing Rooms: None
Family Restrooms: None
Food: None
Sensory Inclusion: None
Getting There and Parking
Take the S46 bus, which serves the Travis Avenue area around the park.
Parking is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Last Chance Pond Park good for toddlers? Yes. The calm pond and easy paths make it an especially gentle, appealing stop for toddlers.
How much does it cost? It is completely free.
Is it indoor or outdoor? It is entirely outdoors.
Is it stroller friendly? Yes, the flat pond-side paths are generally easy for a stroller.
How long should we plan to stay? Thirty minutes to an hour, ideally paired with another nearby stop.
Contact Info
nycgovparks.org | 311 | Travis Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314
