Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
Encyclopedia
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve is state park
of the U.S. state
of New York
, located near the southwestern shore of Staten Island. It is the only state park located on Staten Island.
The park is a 260 acres (1.1 km²) nature preserve, comprising wetland
s, ponds, sand barrens, spring-fed streams, and woodlands. It includes pitch pine
woods, and rare wildflower
s such as cranberry
, lizard-tail, possumhaw
, and bog twayblade. The animal species found in the park include northern black racer snakes, box turtle
s, Fowler's toads
, green frog
s, and spring peeper
s. More than 170 bird
species have been sighted in the park. Deer have also been spotted as recently as September 2010.
The park was created in 1976 after extensive lobbying by the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a local conservation
organization. The purpose of the preserve is to retain the unique ecology, as well as to provide educational and recreational opportunities, such a nature walks, pond ecology programs, and birdwatching
. Horseback riding is permitted on 5 mi (8 km) of bridle paths. The park has two designated areas which are set aside for endangered species and which are off-limits to the public. Two hiking trails, the Abraham's Pond Trail, and the Ellis Swamp Trail, are open to the public near the park headquarters.
The park was the site of extensive mining of white kaolin clay in the 19th century that provided the raw material for bricks and terra cotta
. After the abandonment of the quarrying operations, rainwater, natural springs, and vegetation filled in the pits. The preserve also contains archaeological
evidence of settlements of the Lenape
, early Europe
an settlers, and the Free Blacks of Sandy Ground
.
In October 2008, an interpretive center opened on Nielsen Avenue with exhibits on the history of the Charleston
area and wildlife and plants found within the park. The groundbreaking for the $1.3 million nature center was held on May 4, 2007. The 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) facility contains exhibit space, classrooms, and an outdoor pavilion.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, located near the southwestern shore of Staten Island. It is the only state park located on Staten Island.
The park is a 260 acres (1.1 km²) nature preserve, comprising wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, ponds, sand barrens, spring-fed streams, and woodlands. It includes pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
woods, and rare wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s such as cranberry
Cranberry
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right...
, lizard-tail, possumhaw
Possumhaw
Possumhaw may refer to:* Ilex decidua* Ilex verticillata...
, and bog twayblade. The animal species found in the park include northern black racer snakes, box turtle
Box turtle
The box turtle , or box tortoise is a genus of turtle native to North America . The 12 taxa which are distinguished in the genus are distributed over four species. It is largely characterized by having a domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to...
s, Fowler's toads
Bufo fowleri
Fowler's Toad is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family found in North America. It was previously considered a subspecies of Woodhouse's Toad.-Physical Description:...
, green frog
Green frog
The Green Frog is a species of frog native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. There are two subspecies—the Bronze Frog and the Northern Green Frog.-Description:...
s, and spring peeper
Spring Peeper
The Spring Peeper is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern USA and Canada.-Subspecies:There are two subspecies of the Spring Peeper, the Northern and the Southern Spring Peeper . The Northern is similar to the Southern except for a strong dark marking on the Southern frog's belly...
s. More than 170 bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species have been sighted in the park. Deer have also been spotted as recently as September 2010.
The park was created in 1976 after extensive lobbying by the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a local conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
organization. The purpose of the preserve is to retain the unique ecology, as well as to provide educational and recreational opportunities, such a nature walks, pond ecology programs, and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. Horseback riding is permitted on 5 mi (8 km) of bridle paths. The park has two designated areas which are set aside for endangered species and which are off-limits to the public. Two hiking trails, the Abraham's Pond Trail, and the Ellis Swamp Trail, are open to the public near the park headquarters.
The park was the site of extensive mining of white kaolin clay in the 19th century that provided the raw material for bricks and terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
. After the abandonment of the quarrying operations, rainwater, natural springs, and vegetation filled in the pits. The preserve also contains archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
evidence of settlements of the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
, early Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers, and the Free Blacks of Sandy Ground
Sandy Ground, Staten Island
Sandy Ground is a community within the neighborhood of Rossville in the New York City borough Staten Island, New York, located to the west of Prince's Bay, on the island's South Shore.-History:...
.
In October 2008, an interpretive center opened on Nielsen Avenue with exhibits on the history of the Charleston
Charleston, Staten Island
Charleston is the name of a neighborhood, or section, of New York City's borough of Staten Island. It is located on the island's South Shore, with Tottenville to the south, Pleasant Plains to the East, Rossville to the north, and the Arthur Kill to the west....
area and wildlife and plants found within the park. The groundbreaking for the $1.3 million nature center was held on May 4, 2007. The 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) facility contains exhibit space, classrooms, and an outdoor pavilion.
External links
- Official site
- NY League of Conservation Voters site on Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve