Fort Totten Park

It’s a must to visit place especially if you live in Eastern Queens! Probably only few knows that it is now a public park. I had been planning to come here and check it out for long. Glad I did, it was a perfect walk for today’s good weather.
The park is big but it’s a good excuse for walking. It is used to be a Civil War fortress but now it is a shared site between FDNY, EMS, NYPD, US Coastal Guard, US ARMY, Bayside Historical Society, Korean Church Congregates and the NYC Recreations and Parks.
You could do a self guided tour. Upon entering, make a left in the fork and the visitor center is at the end.
Battery Park entrance is behind the visitor’s center. The center has a small museum about the fort history. You may want to give yourself a little background before the hike. The fort was a historical eastern coastal defense during Civil War era. It was nice to know a little history about the place. The battery fort has two floors. On the top floor was where they locate the cannon guns and on the ground was where they store the cannon balls. You will enjoy the view of the Long Island Sound and the Throgs Neck Bridge while you are there on top aside on being enlightened by the history lies behind it. This part of the park is for you if you are a history buff.
While touring the rest of the park, buildings or houses that used to be officers/​non-​officers quarters were turned into current FDNY, NYPD, US Army Reserve, Coastal Guards offices. My favorite is the castle where Bayside Historical Society houses. The chapel has turned into Korean worship place. There are fields that the public is allowed to use during weekend visit, the pool (weather permitting), dog field, the football field, the gazebo, the picnic grounds and tables (no BBQing though), the children’s playground and the view of the Little Neck Bay are all for free.
The park is accessible by walk or bike, only authorized vehicles are allowed inside. Free admission. There is a good public parking lot before the entrance on the left– by the Little Neck Bay Park which is another good park (separate review). It’s worth coming to the area as it has two different options for you to enjoy your day.
Come by.

Fort Totten is indeed a gem. For those who posted below on these posts, you cannot bring your car in, but you can park in the lot and walk through the grounds (where the real experience takes place).The place is dripping with history, but if you don’t have a guide I would try to read the signs entering the park so you know a little bit about where you’re walking to. Also marked (some say clearly some say not so much) there is a visitors center. We went in the winter where there are no tour guides, and the visitor center was closed for the season.
We were disappointed, but then we looked around the corner and indeed the Fort grounds were open! Around the corner from the locked visitors center there was a dark tunnel, which we were adventurous enough to walk through…(thank god for the motion sensor detected lights) and lo and behold — The Fort! We saw the walls, the window openings where the cannons would have likely fired from, and climbed the stairs to the second level in one of the towers. We were the only ones there, and my 11 year old son remarked that it was like we ourselves discovered some old ruins. Admittedly, I had been there before 20 years ago, but when we went 5 years ago it was closed. I’m sure they had to fortify some of the structures causing it to be closed for a few years. It is supposedly open only until 4pm so if you are late the gates to the actual fort could be closed.
The only drawback is to not have some literature or a guide show us around, but this was a spur-​of-​the moment trek. If you call in advance it is said the NYC Parks Department will arrange for a tour of the place. As for the grounds, they were beautiful. If you know Queens, and its architecture, the Fort Totten grounds were a breath of fresh air — like stepping back in time to the 1800’s. Views of the Throgs Neck Bridge, and a trail that goes down the bay cap off the experience (part of the Park and not the Fort experience). A true gem, that I hope you guys keep quiet about.

I was selected to participate in a historical night tour of this park via the NYC Parks Department website and of course I was late and missed the tour group. I was pissed. com. However, I took advantage of being in the park and walked around a little on my own with my teenaged goddaughter. The park was very big and it was dark so we didn’t venture out too far on our own. The views of the Throgsneck Bridge against the water and lights at night were breathtaking. We saw paths for you to walk, run or ride bikes. There was plenty of parking which was good. I definitely will return to this park to check out so many things we missed. This is definitely a park to check out and take advantage of another of our city’s beautiful parks.

As Win C., said in her review, Fort Totten is definitely a gem in Queens. I don’t know so much about «hidden» anymore. lol But it’s definitely special! Outside, there’s a newly renovated parking lot with plenty of free parking. People park here, and bring their bikes, kids, and strollers. Inside, it’s technically a park now, but several buildings inside are still used for training purposes by the NYPD, FDNY and Army Reserve.
There are great views of Little Neck Bay and Long Island Sound and on the rocks by the water, you can fish and actually catch some nice fish to take home! Of course, you gotta abide by the regulations because the fish have to be a certain length or you gotta throw them back. But last couple months, I noticed that there’s almost no fish in the waters by the Fort. Aside from a few snappers here and there, most people who go fishing there, leave empty handed.
You are not allowed to drive into the fort, unless you have an authorized vehicle or you’re a gov’t official or officer. Though once you do walk in past the security booth, it is quite nice in there. On July 4^th, there’s the annual fireworks display from inside the Fort. It’s a big deal; lots of people who live in the area come down that night to see the fireworks light up the night sky!

This park is pretty big. We were here so many times, never seen this park crowded before. It’s a great park to jog, walk, relax, enjoying a view of Throgs Neck Bridge while watching the sunset.
This park is originally built as a civil war fortress, now it’s a shared site for New York Fire Department, the U.S. Army Reserve, the U.S. Coast Guard, & a public park. If you’re a history buff, you’ll have a good time here in this park. There is a spooky lantern tours every Halloween. Stop by the visitor center to find out the exact date.

Oh man, forget going to one of the 7 wonders of the world this place is amazing I love it, so many great memories as a kid here.
The place itself is renovated, it’s still being worked on the parking lot is a little smaller but you know what it’s still amazing.
Fishing here is amazing.
Park technically closes at 9pm but the cops that come and check are pretty cool, as long as you don’t look suspicious then you will be okay here, just smile and you’ll be fine.
When your walking on the rocks beware there are mice (rats) but their not as big as the subway rats so you’ll be fine.
There’s so many hidden spots to hang out and go fishing here (check the tides before coming)
Great place to study, jog, picnic, Craigslist exchanges, first dates and an amazing place to bring people who are visiting New York this way they can take photos.
Also as your there, definitely try the pizzerias around there (there as good as the ones from Italy lol)

Quite the view from the parking lot but other than that, this is a rather boring park. Only authorized vehicles are granted access into Fort Totten. The signs for restrooms are absolutely false. We couldn’t find a public restroom in every direction we walked. They had some porto potties in random sections of the park. We did come across a swimming pool but when we arrived, they closed it off.
There are a handful of rules before entering Fort Totten. Pets are not allowed. Not many friendly people here and there’s just a lack of amenities for the public here. I wouldn’t bother walking through Fort Totten ever again unless they added some features to their park. The best part was just the view of the bridge. I wish parks like this and Flushing Meadows Corona Park would have a outdoor running track. All of that real estate for nothing… Such a shame as they waste tons of water on acres of empty lawns.

Very nice park. You have access to bayside waterfront. There is a fishing/​craving deck open seems pretty cool. There are plenty of plants/​woods, for even hot summer days, it still keeps cool in the park. There is also great views of the bridge and sunset.

Cool spot to ride bikes … picnic by the river even bbq. Tons of wide open space for the kiddies to run around. Dogs are welcomed. There’s also a public pool. Baseball and soccer fields. I didn’t notice any basketball courts or playgrounds but we also didn’t walk the grounds entirely. Oh and there’s technically no public parking inside the fort but there’s a huge lot in front of the entrance which is closed by 9pm. All in all this place is extremely well maintained. Truly a lovely spot.

A great place to run but there isn’t much to do here. There is a great view of the bridge if you stay close to the edge of the park. Not sure if there was parking inside the area but I couldn’t find it. I had to park in the nearby neighborhood first.
A major plus is that there is a large soccer field, two of them side by side and is usually not occupied. I brought my friends dog here and let her loose. She ran to her hearts content.

nice walking area. pool is nice. houses could be better maintained on outside– I will definitely go back for a walk. safe quiet friendly people walking with smiles on their faces. :o)

There are at least two water fountains in this park. The first is in the kiddie playground by Abbot Rd. and Whistler Ave. Another is located along the North Loop off Abbot.

I agree with M.M.‘s review about the pool. VERY poorly run, showering in front of workers who look as if they want to tear off what little clothes you have on and unfriendly staff. The park grounds are fine, peaceful and you can get a good run or walk in. But as for the pool, I would not recommend it to family, friends or foes.

Somewhat hidden and inaccessible, but worth a trip to. An old naval base, you can see why commanding officers chose this spot hundreds of years ago. The architecture is well preserved, the paths and roads are quiet, and there is ample planning for sports and recreation, with pools, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields.

I love this park. Its so beautiful with the view of the bridge and its just a great place to be for a walk. However, the one complaint I have is its right next to the highway which kinda takes away the beauty of the park.

Surprised this does not have more reviews, guess it is a true hidden gem.
With views of the Throgs neck bridge, right off of the Long Island Sound this is great place to go running, walking, take your dog, rolling bladding etc.
I am not sure if ever day citizens are allowed to go INTO the fort currently, however I have been inside many times, including enjoying there small but nice pool.
Right outside the fort you will find a skate rink, walking paths, and jetties along the water.

Here we go again, Winnie becomes a true tourist even though I was born and raised in the Big Apple. I can name a million spots that has an amazing view of New York, but Fort Totten is one of those hidden gems from Queens! There’s a parking lot where you can park your car, and you can walk over near the rocks to view the Throgs Neck Bridge. It’s truly a beautiful scenery. I would recommend seeing the sunset there.
I didn’t get a chance to view the actual Fort because it’s apparently closed on the weekdays. You actually need to call someone to set up a tour… just FYI

If you’re going there to see the really cool Fort ruins that you’ve seen pictures of all over the internet don’t bother, it’s completely closed off and you can’t see it at all from any open area in the park. Even at the front gate they don’t bother to tell you it’s not open. Very annoying!

Great view of the bridge & water & just can be peaceful. There’s public parking also right by the water. Theres open fields and people fly there kites or even have picnics in this park. Theres benches and people come jogging and running down here because theres a trail that goes pretty far. Its a very nice relaxing place if you just wanna come and hang out with some friends or walk your four legged guys and bring the kids too.

Originally built as a Civil War fortress, now a 60.39 acres shared site for New York Fire Department, the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard, and NYC Parks.
A beautiful park well maintained for the grounds is clean and resonate beautiful views of Throgs Neck Bridge and Long Island Sound on a clear day. On a relaxing Sunday to attain inner peace and expel poison from what life has blocked me from achieving happiness, Fort Totten Park fends a nice walk-​a-​thon. The Parade Grounds serve as a soccer and events field to the public including a outdoor swimming pool. A jetty path is accessible by foot only which fends a clear view of Throgs Neck Bridge as the scenery of Long Island Sound is beautiful. Grounds are a secure site for a gated security admits visitors. Here lies U.S. Army Reserves where militarists serve their remaining passive years.
A Visitor’s Station is available to host as a small museum of authentic artifacts from the Civil War era. Kid friendly grounds and best of all – FREE! Fort Totten also inhabits a «Greenway,» a park area designated exclusively for Bicyclers and pedestrians. For any avid history buff or those who truly enjoy the great outdoors, Fort Totten presents both without question.

Nice place! We mostly came to sit in the car to enjoy the view of the sunsetting behind the Throgs Neck Bridge and the East River while having deep conversations…
One night we went with a friend and walked on rocks that sit on top of the river. It was so dark and cold. I enjoyed the slight thrill of being in danger of falling in. The last time we were there we parked a bit further from the scenery but decided to move closer, and closer as the sun set. Each time we moved, we noticed that a man with blonde hair wearing a suit in a white car kept parking next to us. WHAT A CREEP.
…And we never went back again.