17 upcoming events · 1 local studios
Todt Hill sits at the highest point in New York City, on Staten Island, and the feel here is quiet, wooded, and very residential. Big private homes line the streets, old-growth trees block out the sky, and the neighborhood runs right up against the Staten Island Greenbelt, a 2,800-acre forest along the western edge of the hill. That proximity is the biggest outdoor draw for little ones: the Greenbelt has trails through woods and fields, and the nearby Greenbelt Nature Center in LaTourette Park has a one-mile loop trail designed for kids, plus animals and nature programs inside. One thing to know going in: Todt Hill has no public transit and most streets have no sidewalks, so you are driving everywhere. This is a car-dependent area, full stop. There are no shops or cafes in the neighborhood itself, though nearby Richmond Road has a few spots. The events here tend to come from organizations that travel to serve this part of Staten Island, including NYC Parks and the Staten Island JCC. That model works fine, but it means the area is better for outdoor adventures than for drop-in studio classes on your block.