description/

This 5,000 square-foot nature center, opened in 2004 and located in the heart of Staten Island, is home to receptions, meetings, exhibitions and private activities. (It can be rented out for special events.) But it's what surrounds the center that's really exciting: nearly 2,800 acres of lush forests, meadows, ponds and hiking grounds, which are available for use year-round. Founded in 1989, Greenbelt is free and open to the public and even offers stellar trail maps to guide you on your way. For more information, visit sigreenbelt.org.