Yesterday, I arrived at the airport in Brooklyn. What airport in Brooklyn? The one by Jamaica Bay, the one that was NYC's first municipal airport, the one where people like Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes flew out of, and the busiest WWII airport in the US. Floyd Bennett field was named for naval aviator and Brooklyn resident Floyd Bennett, the first person to fly over the North Pole . Here's a great website to learn more about its history: http://www.nps.gov/nr//travel/aviation/flo.htm
I'm not sure how to describe this former airport that is now a park, so I'll share with you some of my thoughts as I walked in and explored:
"It's very flat, and there's green everywhere...I can see a lot of sky!...The Ranger at the Ranger Station was friendly...there's a miniature outdoor race track for remote controlled cars that someone's using--that's awesome!...The roads are wide, and long...Feels very airy....Very few people around...there are so many birds!...the abandoned buildings remind me of Fort Totten before they took down the barracks...starlings are flying in and out of the abandoned buildings--this is what it would be like everywhere if people disappeared...there are tall grasses everywhere...that's a pretty cat...must be a happy cat having access to all the birds here...Ecology Village is beautiful...the pines smell great...what a cute a little white moth...public bathrooms are open, have soap, and the water fountains are working, nice!...NYPD helicopter is taking off...Park Police gives me a friendly wave from their patrol car... oh, there's a circus here!"
I only scratched the surface of this park, but my most lasting impression is that there is a lot of open sky and space, and it is very relaxing to be there. You've definitely left the city behind when you enter. Also, if you're looking for recreation and not just relaxation, there is literally something for everyone to do here. It's like a hands-on theme park for hobbyists. For a rundown on a truly amazing menu of activities for both nature lovers (hiking, kayaking, gardening), aviation enthusiasts and sports fanatics, please read this website: http://nyharborparks.org/visit/flbe.html This is also the only location in the city where you can sign up to camp and cook your dinner over open fire, which you can do by following the link.
Also, if you want to read even more, check out this great blog entry about Floyd Bennett Field from NYCNatureNews.com: http://www.nycnaturenews.com/places/localspots/brooklyn/floydbennettfield/
And you can also check out the opening of the Ryan Visitor Center on May 5h and 6th. Live music will kick off the festivities at noon on Saturday, May 5, with the ribbon cutting ceremony beginning at 12:30 P.M. Contests, swing dancing and children's activities will take place over the weekend. The Rockaway Arts Alliance will conduct children's activities on both days in the new visitor center.
(To get there, I took the 2/5 train to the last stop and transferred to the Q35 bus in front of the Target. The bus leaves you either at the newly restored Ryan Visitor Center (original terminal) or at the entrance located just before the toll bridge.)
I'm not sure how to describe this former airport that is now a park, so I'll share with you some of my thoughts as I walked in and explored:
"It's very flat, and there's green everywhere...I can see a lot of sky!...The Ranger at the Ranger Station was friendly...there's a miniature outdoor race track for remote controlled cars that someone's using--that's awesome!...The roads are wide, and long...Feels very airy....Very few people around...there are so many birds!...the abandoned buildings remind me of Fort Totten before they took down the barracks...starlings are flying in and out of the abandoned buildings--this is what it would be like everywhere if people disappeared...there are tall grasses everywhere...that's a pretty cat...must be a happy cat having access to all the birds here...Ecology Village is beautiful...the pines smell great...what a cute a little white moth...public bathrooms are open, have soap, and the water fountains are working, nice!...NYPD helicopter is taking off...Park Police gives me a friendly wave from their patrol car... oh, there's a circus here!"
I only scratched the surface of this park, but my most lasting impression is that there is a lot of open sky and space, and it is very relaxing to be there. You've definitely left the city behind when you enter. Also, if you're looking for recreation and not just relaxation, there is literally something for everyone to do here. It's like a hands-on theme park for hobbyists. For a rundown on a truly amazing menu of activities for both nature lovers (hiking, kayaking, gardening), aviation enthusiasts and sports fanatics, please read this website: http://nyharborparks.org/visit/flbe.html This is also the only location in the city where you can sign up to camp and cook your dinner over open fire, which you can do by following the link.
Also, if you want to read even more, check out this great blog entry about Floyd Bennett Field from NYCNatureNews.com: http://www.nycnaturenews.com/places/localspots/brooklyn/floydbennettfield/
And you can also check out the opening of the Ryan Visitor Center on May 5h and 6th. Live music will kick off the festivities at noon on Saturday, May 5, with the ribbon cutting ceremony beginning at 12:30 P.M. Contests, swing dancing and children's activities will take place over the weekend. The Rockaway Arts Alliance will conduct children's activities on both days in the new visitor center.
(To get there, I took the 2/5 train to the last stop and transferred to the Q35 bus in front of the Target. The bus leaves you either at the newly restored Ryan Visitor Center (original terminal) or at the entrance located just before the toll bridge.)
