PARK FACT:
Fort Totten was originally planned by famed Confederate general Robert E. Lee four years before his state seceded from the Union.
Fort Totten Park
Fort Totten, Cross Island Parkway, Totten Road to 15 Road
Queens
Acres: 10.00
A pristine stretch surrounding a preserved Civil War fortress, Fort Totten Park provides not only recreation and relaxation but a fascinating glimpse into New York’s past.
Urban Parks Rangers lead regular tours of the fortress and the wildlife surrounding it for those who enjoy guided treks, and a visitors’ center inside the park provides helpful information on the park’s past for those prefer to scout alone.
This park, located along the Cross Island Parkway off Totten Avenue between Totten and 15th Roads in the Queens neighborhood of Bay Terrace, is named for the modernized Civil War fortress in which it resides. Originally inhabited by the Matinecock Indians, the neighborhood of Bayside was first settled during the American Revolution. This site was first named Willets Point, but later renamed for General Joseph Totten (1788-1864) after his demise in the Battle of the Wilderness. Plans were initially prepared by Captain Robert E. Lee in 1857, and construction of the fortification began in 1862. Built across the East River from its counterpart, Fort Schuyler, Totten was initially charged with defending the eastern approach to New York Harbor. Soon after its completion, however, with the rapid advances made in fortification design by battlefield engineers and commanders fighting the Civil War in the South, Fort Totten became obsolete as a defensive structure and its facilities were remanded to the position of casualty support and hospital care (1864-1965). After the war, the fort housed the Engineer School of Application (1865-1901), Eastern Artillery District Headquarters (ca.1901), Electric Mines and Army School of Submarine Defense (1921), a prototype anti-aircraft installation (1922), the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Headquarters (1941-1944), the North Atlantic Wing of the Air Transportation Command (1944), the New York-New jersey Sub-Area Command Headquarters (1949), First Region ARADCOM for the Nike Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System (1954), and most recently has served as a U.S. Army Reserve post (1974). After nearly two decades of community lobbying efforts for a new Bayside area park, in 1987 New York City and Parks accepted the gift of ten acres of surplus Fort Totten land from the U.S. Department of Defense. Though other areas at the time were still being utilized by the Department of the Army and the Coast Guard, the City land grant included the site’s historic fort, an 19th century artillery battery, and a grassy tree-lined stretch of property with long winding footpaths. Since the 1980s, Fort Totten’s facilities have been used by the New York Fire Department, St. John’s University, Bayside Historical, and it has also been used as the Queens Theater in the Park.
Events
With winter weather keeping us inside, come get creative by using all that winter has left behind for us. ...
Facilities
POLL
Under Construction
We are creating a new green "North Park" at Fort Totten. The newly designed passive park will include lawns and paths using existing trees and topography to frame views of Little Neck Bay. The old King Battery will be marked with a large grass mound and new benches will be added along the paths. In addition a drinking fountain, new plantings and over 140 new trees will be added to this natural setting. In preparation for this new park, 19 unused structures will be demolished.
Anticipated Completion: Winter 2010
News
Highlights
Contacts
| Northeast Queens Administrators Office | (718) 352-4793 |
