Fort Hill Park

About this listing

Community-initiated park, once site of military fortifications

Place Details

Place Matters Profile

Fort Hill Park is a wooded hillside park at one of Staten Island's highest elevation. Getting to it on foot, requires some hill climbing through treelined streets and a series of stairs. Fort Hill Park was once the location of Fort Knyphausen, a British fort built by Prussian general Baron Knyphausen during the American Revolution. Although the original fort is long gone, some of the tunnels and munitions are said to be buried in the hill.

Fort Hill Park is a wooded hillside park at one of Staten Island's highest elevation. Getting to it on foot, requires some hill climbing through treelined streets and a series of stairs. Fort Hill Park was once the location of Fort Knyphausen, a British fort built by Prussian general Baron Knyphausen during the American Revolution. Although the original fort is long gone, some of the tunnels and munitions are said to be buried in the hill.

Nominations

The park (now designated so by the city), is the site of Fort Hill, fortified by the British during the Revolution. We value it because it's a natural wooded setting with a view of the Narrows and a deep historical significance. It's also important as an undeveloped area -- a rarity in St. George. Neighbors fought to keep it that way, and helped to get it established as a city park. (March 2007)