I learned to ride a bike at this park. Many fun childhood memories rolling down the big hill and playing in the snow or autumn leaves. Great amenities and a skate park was added. The park also features beautiful views of the Narrows. It's one of my favorite places to catch sunset views. Only downside is the stench that emanates from the wastewater treatment plant nearby (since 1952). FYI, for those interested, you can enter a lottery to tour the wastewater treatment plant! Owl's Head Park has a rich and interesting history. You can read more about it here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/owls-head-park/history If you ever find yourself in this quiet part of Bay Ridge, it's definitely worth a visit. read more

Owl's Head Park - Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I've been to this park on several occasions--most of which came when I didn't live in the area, but now that I live just a few blocks away, I've only been here two or three times. Nonetheless, my daughter wanted to have some friends/family celebrate her birthday here. The park is a decent size park, where a lot of people have set-ups for birthdays. A short distance away, they have a play area for the children to do their thing. If you walk up a bit, you can get some nice anemic photos toward the water, during this part of the season, you may spot a cherry blossom tree, or two. Overall, it's a wonderful family oriented park. I'd say if you have children, a dog, a mate who enjoys walking, a couple friends who want a picnic and/or some quiet time, this park would definitely suit your needs! read more

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One of the best parks to go to during my high school days especially but it looked like hell back then. We basically played full court on a very uneven gravel filled area (maybe that is why some of my friends have back issues now this many years later). I think this park is the best in summertime, of course. The property is very spacious and peaceful. A playground area, Basketball courts, a spray pool and skate park are included. Check this place out if you can, some may refer to it as deep In Brooklyn, but others just refer to it as colonial rd. And 68th street. read more

Been coming to this park every year for their annual Easter Egg Hunt (pre-covid). It had become a tradition for me and my kid as we both donned our bunny ears and excitedly head out to hunt Easter eggs all around this park. The line for this event stretches down the entire park (no joke), that's about an eight block stretch. The park itself provides a scenic view of the river along the Belt Parkway. It has massive grass areas for picnics and play space. Park is very well maintained and kept clean, never got to use the restroom though. Overall, a wonderful Iconic park that exemplifies the beauty of Brooklyn read more

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Came by with my friend for a walk in the park. We also strolled over to the pier where we enjoyed the breeze and sun. After awhile, the smell of the nearby plant got to us so we had to climb up the grassy hill to stay up wind of the smell. Picnicking on the grass and chatting on a Monday afternoon was just lovely. This will probably be the last time we are this carefree in the afternoon as we both return back to the office. No more going off to do stuff on a whim with my work phone to work from home read more

I wasn't aware of this gem until one day I decided to take my cat out for park day. YES you are right - I took my cat out and let her explore the nature. This park is great for so many activities - picnic, photoshoot, walk your dog and so much more. They have a skate park, spray shower, fitness equipment and some dog-friendly areas. I was surprised that this park is clean and well-maintained. I also saw videos of kids tubing down the slopes after the snow storms that we had this year. I visited in early Fall and can't wait to go back when the weather is warmer. read more

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It's a beautiful family friendly park in Bay Ridge. You are also overlooking the Verrazano Bridge. Great for walking, biking & there's also an area to play baseball. I've notice two play area for kids . read more

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To dispel life's daily deal of the daily grind, with a friend, Owls Head Park is a premier park in Brooklyn which allows visitors to overlook New York Harbor along Belt Parkway. Children playing on the playground where the laughter and joyous cries resonate a innocent youth for what fate awaits their life. Owls Head Park is also equipped with a dog run, skateboard and bike lanes. There are many nice walking trails within. The layout fends this park an illusion of great space with lots of greenery. read more

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One of the larger nicer parks in Brooklyn. You'll have many different kind of activities. A skate park, biking, jungle gyms, a playground, wonderful water lined paths overlooking the statue of liberty and lower manhattan and a wonderful park hill during the winter. It's one of the destinations for winter snow sledding and i have to admit its a great hill to go down. Whether you are a adult or a kid everyone is having fun. Plenty of street parking as well. It's tranquil and peaceful. A wonderful park to relax in. read more

Called "Bliss Park" by the locals this is a small hilly oasis of a spot and perfect for a beautiful day stroll. My bf brought me here and he being a former Brooklynite and from this hood used to frequent this spot. Myself, also a former Brooklynite have never been and was shocked to see this lovely little patch of green, trees and water views. This is a peaceful family spot with kids, dogs etc. though tranquil on a weekday. Love to come back for a picnic soon....to enjoy this serene gem. read more

What is there not to love about a park? I often spend my lunch breaks strolling through Owl's Head before heading down the Promenade on 69th street, or just sitting of one it's wooden benches and overlooking the water. I like to appreciate the park as it changes throughout the four seasons. In the winter, lots of kids will go sledding there since it has big, rolling hills. read more

I have yet to meet anyone who has been to this park, even including my friends who live in Bay Ridge - but that makes it a nearly-undiscovered jewel. Our very favorite time to visit Owl's Head is during late fall or winter, as it's less-trafficked and there's a sort of romantic feeling. Walk up the hill through the park, with trees shorn of their leaves - past benches where you could sit for hours just enjoying the atmosphere (weather-permitting, of course) - and then you'll come to a great view of lower Manhattan. Lovely! read more

There are few neighborhood parks as comprehensive and well-designed as Owl's Head Park. From the skate park, to the playground (with a tire swing), from the landscape of rolling hills to the superb water park, it's hard to find a more welcoming, broadly appearing and usable park in just about any borough, or even any city. Well done, NYC! read more

Great dog run. Have been regulars for 2 years. The people that visit are caring and drama free. If the dogs act out, the owners usually intervene. Conveniently located near the highway and outer edge of the park. The park itself is very large and lots to do. Clean restrooms, always tons of activities, large playground and skate park! Sprinklers open in the summer read more

Owl's Head Park - Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

One of the best parks in the city (Owl's Head) is found so far off the beaten-path; so obscured from the hustle-and-bustle; so relegated to anonymity in a mediocre backwater of a neighborhood....you get my drift. Owl's Head nevertheless, has the most tree diversity in all of New York. Fact. The parks which spin off from this community anchor--along Shore Road--also share in this; and they are also thick with playgrounds; ballfields; water fountains; basketball courts as Owl's is. But make no mistake: everyone starts their weekend mornings at Owls Head first. Wintertime, too--mecca for sledding enthusiasts. In Owl's Head there is real excitement --a sense of discovery--because the terrain itself is unlike any other in New York. It is like a glacial outcrop; it doesn't feel like something planned or built-up-with-a-backhoe, or 'controlled'. Its got variegation; unevenness. You stride up rather a mammoth, sloping, hummock of earth sheltered by a gargantuan canopy of towering sycamore trees; and they reach down their thick, leafy branches to welcome you. Extraordinarily cheerful and homey. To give you an idea how "forest-like" this environment is; I can tell you that during a raging thunderstorm I have stood under these dense treetops and not gotten splashed by a single drop of rain. Its fabulous to come here during a storm. Owl's Head is--well, of course its not a real woodland--but its one of the few areas I've ever seen in New York where that 'woodland feel' is even attempted. Its brooding; its serene; its spiritual; its spooky; its unruly. Its a park with something to say to you. The ground is rough, messy; and strewn with branches; its not a nice, neat, 'golf-course'. This is not a 'tree-museum'. You can wander around just in this grove and --unlike Central Park--truly feel as if you are away from the city. Should you suddenly feel you've had enough of being "in the woods"--stroll over less than a hundred feet and emerge out onto the incredible, sunny, wide-open view and gaze with wide-eyed pleasure at the sparkling Hudson River; the city's bridges; the Statue of Liberty; and all the ships in the harbor. This park is a kind of a secret--it goes completely unrecognized for the superb--even spectacular--vistas it offers. There's no better way to experience a grand, sweeping view of Upper New York Bay; the Manhattan skyline; and the far-away smear of the Jersey coast. You can see all the way to the tower at Newark Airport. You can see out to that far distance where freedom--the world outside New York--truly lies, and almost imagine yourself there. There are other great river viewsheds in NYC, yes (think for example of the boat basin on the UWS) but the problem is (as always) that your experience will be ruined by the presence of too many other jerkoff New Yorkers sharing the railing with you. Invading your space. Talking too loudly; being morons. Owl's Head HAS NO crowds to contend with. That makes the difference. You can come here and find yourself completely alone. Alone in your own thoughts and daydreams. Yep. Thanks to its location in sleepy, hum-drum Bay Ridge; thanks to old Man Bliss who donated the park so long ago--there's 'elbow room' here; room to forget aggravation. It feels intimate, private; 'personal'. There's at least one place in New York to enjoy being a human again. read more

A large park with a playground, basketball courts, skate park, and paths for people to enjoy. It's near the water so you get a view too. The playground is well kept and decent in size. The basketball courts aren't, but can be used. The skate area is popular and a neat spot to see people practice their tricks/techniques with a skateboard or bikes. Pretty good overall and a enjoyable spot to get some exercise in or just to roam around. Watching owners and their dogs play is enjoyable too. read more

I believe hearing children play is the sound of life! I know some adults do not like to hear children scream but to me it sounds wonderful! If you love children, and life this is a nice park. If you don't like children this park may not appeal to you. There is a nice playground for young children and there are many young children and families playing in this park. Like the neighborhood the park is mixed ethnically. There are small hills to walk on a walking path. You share it with bikes but they are real New Yorkers riding their bikes not hill billies who just moved here from nowheresville who don't know how to ride their bikes like in Williamsburg. The park though has a lot of tall weeds and it doesn't look like the city takes care of it's upkeep. I know our mayor only puts money into areas he thinks will make money for the city. In 1994, Borough President Howard Golden and City Councilmember Sal Albanese funded a $400,000 restoration that brought new life to the park. Roads were paved, equipment replaced, and amenities added. Since that time, Owl's Head Park received new concrete basketball courts, and in 2000, the city's first skateboard park. In 2002, the original gates of the Bliss estate were found in storage, and returned to the entrance of the park. They are beautiful, ornate wrought iron gates, with a large cartouche with the initials "EWB". For older Bay Ridgers especially, this is fitting, as to them, it will always be Bliss Park. Here is a fascinating article about the parks history and long story short you can trace the invention of artificially flavored soda to this park. http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/05/walkabout-the-lords-of-owl%E2%80%99s-head-part-3/ Perhaps that is why the mayor doesn't put much help into upkeep of the park. We all know he hates soda. There are community organizations who have organized clean ups of the park. But it would be much nicer if the city put money into it's upkeep. A part of our trip to Brooklyn was diagnostic. I was in too much pain even a month go to go to Brooklyn. Or this far in Brooklyn. I did fine but then I took a fall in an unkempt building. So I may have to start all over with my recovery or get another surgery. UGH! read more

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The park is so peaceful with friendly people walking their dogs or sweet families having picnics. There is also a dog park, basketball court, skateboard area, park with swings, slides, etc. very nice. You can also walk down by the water and enjoy the lovely views to both SI and NYC. Point deducted due to sewage smell from tank plants. read more

Bay Ridge is a lot greener than it looks. That's because most of them are located along the shore and Owl's Head park is one of them. It's surprisingly huge and because it's on a hill, you get fantastic sunset views along the water. While it's not directly connected to Shore Road park, it is right next to it so you can't miss it. You can also go fishing along the pier and walk along the Promenade. It's an absolute urban oasis. I've been in and around about the neighborhood for many years so I've noticed changes to the shops and people who live here. But this nature stuff has not changed a single bit and in fact, I think it's even getting better. Very blessed to live and be part of the neighborhood now. read more

Owl's Head Park - Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I LOVE this park... So much so that i have to let everyone know how disappointed i have been with the water sprinkler area. For the past few summers, it has been filthy. The rubber floor cushions are bubbled up and when stepped on, black mold water pours out. There is mold everywhere. The floor is slimy, and always covered in water ballons. It has not been swept in a LOOOONG time. The same beer bottle caps from last summer are still there!!!! Please clean up the mess so the little ones can enjoy the beautiful park as it was intended years ago!!! read more

Something I am in favor of: rich people allowing their estates to become public parkland. Of course, it's really too bad that, after acquiring the estate, the city couldn't be bothered to take care of it... apparently there once were some neat historic buildings on the land, but they were gone by before WWII. Now, it's in pretty good shape. The park is like a raised bed of land, with plenty of trees, lawns and benches, good for strolling through or just relaxing. From the eastern side of the park there's a nice view out over the bay, and it connects with Shore Road Park, if you're in the mood for a longer walk. read more

The weekends are a little hard because it's packed with people and their family parties. They set up tables and chairs and tents. The noise level is loud but by 10pm it's nice and peaceful. Week days are good when school starts for now a lot of camps cone here during the summer. Park is nice and clean and they worked hard to keep it that way. The police cruise the park at times. read more

It's a beautiful park. They have separate playgrounds- for the older kids and one for the lil toddlers. Same area off 68 & colonial. There is also a water park with several water features. It's just awesome for a day out with kids or on your own. Plenty of green space for a picnic or a birthday party. read more

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Going to a park really depends on the weather, mood and who you are with. I was here on a beautiful cloudless afternoon when the temp is mid 70s. Awesome mood and felt like I can do anything in my work out gears. Accompanied with my 2 younger brothers who act like child as usual including rolling down the grassy hill. First I will have to complain about this organization "http://www.autismspeaks.org/" when they are hosting a party at the location and wants to charge us $10 to go into the basketball court which is a joke. We walked away disappointed. I hope the city does something. We went up the hill in the park instead and it was better than the court section which was loud and crowded. There's enough room to lay down and enjoy your favorite book or listen to your music while enjoy the shaded area. Try not go over the hill in the morning, it smells like Jersey if you know what i meant. this is a very populated park in some section and some not. I will suggest up the hill and avoid the volley ball court as it might get dusty. Definitely go by the river side if you want to see some scenery stuff. read more

Great and wonderful. Bay ridge was a gorgeous neighborhood. We usually drive there to have dinner, jogging and enjoy the high line of Lower Manhattan. Nice view and spot to witness the sun rise. read more

A great park to take a walk around on your way to the pier or to the path along the Belt, but also a nice spot to sit and stay awhile. Lots of big, old, shady trees and families having barbecues in the summer. The view from the top of the hill is nice if you ignore the parkway, and it's a good spot for watching a sunset, especially if you bring some snacks--there isn't much in the way of shopping or food nearby, and unless you come prepared, you'll be stuck with whatever the ice cream truck down by the pier or a wandering icey cart has for you, if you're lucky enough to be there when they are. read more

Owl's Head Park - Looking up the hill near the corner of Shore Rd & 68th. - Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I just moved to 61st street and was looking for a place to run my dog. I took him to the run at Owls Head Park. He didn't like it at all. The pen is relatively large compared to some of the other one's I have seen in NYC, but one end is all dirt and the other end is all really tall weeds. There are no ramps or other toys for him and it seemed like another animal had urinated all over the run because he kept smelling around with his tail between his legs. We were the only ones there when we got there but another dog came later and they chased each other a bit. As for the rest of the park, it is decent. The bike/walking greenway on the outer edge is recently rebuilt. And some of Bloombergs million trees are planted in the park. It isn't the cleanest park but average for NYC. read more

I'm not exaggerating, I would like to live in one of the houses that line the edge of the park. This park is huge, beautiful, and unassuming all at once. It seems like the sort of place where kids make childhood memories. I could stroll here for an hour, two, or more. read more

Owl's Head Park - Parks Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love coming to this park. No matter if it's hot ,there is plenty of shade. The park is surrounded with huge trees and has great pathways if you have a stroller. There is a water park & a playground. It is also the perfect park for a jog or ride your bike at. The path continues on towards the pier then heads to Verrazano bridge. This park is perfect for almost anything... to enjoy a picnic, watch the sunset, sit on a bench enjoy your coffee and the waterfront view, or just people watch. read more

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Fantastic pier, where many Brooklynites go to enjoy the views of the Harbor, fish, or soak up the sun. There's also a very nice seafaring memorial dedicated to those that lost their lives on 9/11. Next to the pier is the park itself. Large, with playgrounds and picnic areas. There's a skateboard park, too. Popular park for families, and who needs to go to New England to see beautiful fall foliage when we have this park here in Brooklyn? Have fun, there's the water and the park grounds. A nice way to spend a day, during any season. read more

Lovely park. Good for everyone of all ages!! Many people stroll and run here in the morning and evening. There's a skate park perfect for teenagers and many basketball courts. It's a great place for the summer because the tall trees provide shade. The pier is very close by therefore the view is amazing when you're at the top of hill. There are many benches you can sit all around the park. You can picnic there and there is even a dog park at the bottom of the park around the back near the pier. read more

Cool park for walking, skateboarding, running. We love to come here sometimes for our evening running session.

This is my 100th review and among many in the Yelp community as well as myself, hitting the 3 digit mark should be marked with a place that is highly important and special to the reviewer. That is why this review is dedicated to the most important and the most special person in my heart. That person would be the ever so lovely Judy L., whom brightens my day with a single smile. Thank you for being my partner in crime in so many of my reviews. When I was in middle school, my friends and I were avid basketball players. We often jumped on the bus after school on Fridays and rode it all the way to Owl's Head Park to take advantage of their numerous basketball courts. I can still remember the time that I twisted my ankle while playing and limped my way back to the bus to go home. Much has changed around the park since that time. I watched one Friday afternoon as the construction crews dug out what would eventually become a huge public outdoor skate park. You get filled with a surreal feeling standing in the basketball courts with the apartments looking down at you and the sounds from the rush of traffic on the nearby highway. My friends from middle school were credited with showing me Owl's Head Park, a beautiful new place that I had never been to before - or so I thought. Over the years, I had come to Owl's Head Park many random times. Mostly I park my car in the area and walk through the park to get to the public fishing pier at the base of one end of the park. I have also rode my bike here and used the park and/or the pier as my landmark because the bike path along the Belt Parkway starts from there and runs to Caesars Bay which is in my neighborhood. Owl's Head Park has always been a place that I held dearly in my heart, even when I didn't know it. There are only a handful of truly special moments in my life that I can remember so vividly when I think back on my childhood. One such moment would be my first and only ever time going sledding after a snowfall. I was just a young child that time and was brought there by my childhood friend's father together with our families. We gleefully rode down the snow-covered hill and even built a snowman. I remember running around further back at the top of the hill and seeing a picturesque scene through a gap in the trees of a waterway and many ships. Unfortunately for me, I was so young that I hadn't the slightest idea where the park was or what it was even called. I asked my sister many times throughout my childhood and adolescent life while reminiscing about our childhoods, but she too didn't know at the time where we were. I even tried searching for it for hours once while online but it was difficult to run a search on Yahoo or Google with little to no information to start on. This past summer, I met Judy L. and although it took a lot of persistence, I finally got her to agree to go out with me and be my girlfriend. Now I'm what you would consider a romantic type. I like to do all the little things to put a smile on her face. That being said, we decided to celebrate our 1 Month Anniversary (Yes, I know it's so high school to celebrate monthly anniversaries but hey I like it) by preparing a picnic for us at Owl's Head Park. We had a great time enjoying our meal on a blanket spread across the grassy hillside. We watched the clouds go by, the kids playing with their parents and just let the world go by as we laid there. Eventually we decided to pack everything up and took a stroll to the top of the hill. That's when I froze and suddenly got hit with a pang of nostalgia. I had been to Owl's Head Park countless times in my life, but I never found the time to walk up the hill. When we reached the top of the hill, the first thing I saw was a waterway and ships through a gap in the trees. I found it ladies and gentlemen, I finally found it. After more than a decade of searching and finally giving up and nearly forgetting about it, I finally found the mystery park with the hill that I went to for the first and only time I ever went sledding. This could not and would not have been possible without you Judy. It made the discovery so much more special. Thank you. x3 P.S. My main picture happens to be on the hill at Owl's Head Park from that very day. read more

Owls head, the Central Park of Brooklyn is such a wonderful place to got to if you're planning a picnic, outdoor birthday party, taking the kids to park or going on a quiet evening stroll. It's not far from the narrows botanical garden and the shore road boardwalk pier, both great places to check out prior to visiting the park. read more

Owls head is a great park which you can see from the belt parkway. They have an excellent dog run and also a skatepark as well. When youre done at the parkI suggest going down to the pier just a block away to go fishing or just sit and look at the views of Downtown Manhattan, Staten Island (yuck), The statue of liberty, Jersey (yuck x2). You can watch the cruise ships go by and all the barges polluting our waters. Its a jolly good time. But, really. It is beautiful. It makes you forget just how dirty this city really is. Until you look down into the water and see Starbucks cups and pizza boxes floating by. I swear to god If i ever see someone throwing garbage into the water I will fucking kill you. Thank You....enjoy your day. read more

I'm not sure why this park gets such great reviews - yeah, it's got a great view of the water and Manhattan skyline, but it's one of the grungiest parks I've ever been in. It looks unkempt. The playground is gross and the kids that go there are among the worst-behaved I've ever met: throwing rocks across the toddler playground, riding their bikes and ramming into people, running all over the little kids' equipment. I end up yelling at a tween boy nearly every time I go here, just trying to get some exercise for my toddler. There's often teens hanging out here, looking for trouble - there was a shooting among rival gangs here in 2010. It's a shame that this great part of Bay Ridge can't have a nicer, cleaner, safer park. read more

It's a beautiful hillside park on the edge of 65th st in Bay Ridge. It has a lot of interesting stuff, skate ramps, kiddie playground area, a "suicide" drop for you bicyclist. It has breath taking views of Lower New York Bay, Lady Liberty and Downtown Manhattan. Great place to lay on the grass and read a book. Also a great place for a first date kiss. read more

4.5 stars... Also known as Bliss Park, Owl's Head Park has been a Brooklyn gem since the 1930s when Robert Moses designed it. The park is located right by the east river and 68th St which is at the very top of Bay Ridge (and just south of Sunset Park). To get there via subway, just take the R to Bay Ridge Ave and walk 3 aves west. The area it's in is one of the most beautiful areas of Bay Ridge. The park isn't as big as Prospect Park but the layout makes it feel a lot bigger than it is. It's not the best manicured park I've been to but it was clean and had some features that shot this up to my list of favorite NYC parks. The park has a nice hill in the winter for sledding, a nice weaving path around the park to stroll or get some exercise (the incline makes it nice and challenging), bathrooms, lots of little semi-private areas, plenty of shaded (and sunny) areas, a great view/field overlooking the east river, and a great proximity to the 69th Street Pier and the Shore Parkway path (biking and walking) which extended past the Verrazano Bridge to the outskirts of Coney Island. If you live in NYC or are visiting anywhere near Bay Ridge/Sunset Park and don't go, you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice. read more

I've lived facing Owl's Head Park for 13 years and this is the best secret that has yet to be discovered by the rest of Brooklyn and beyond. It is quiet and peaceful and serene in the morning and if you sit on the 'hilltop' facing the river you get a great majestic view of the pier and the ships. There are rolling hills ideal for playing in the snow in the winter and sunbathing and picnicking in the summer. There is a children's playground and a basketball court. This park is excellent for jogging and walking as there are some challenging steep climbs and some back trails that will make you feel like you're most definitely not in NYC. What a beautiful sanctuary. read more

This a great park with a kiddie park, a dog run (if you have one), and a skaterpark. There are always tons of people here and lots of benchs to sit on. There is plenty of shade in the trees for those really hot days. The pier is a block a way and there's a great walking and biking trail there. read more