37 upcoming events · 0 local studios
A quiet, residential corner of Staten Island, Willowbrook grew up largely after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened and still has that low-key suburban feel: streets of one- and two-family homes, not much foot traffic, and a lot of green space. The anchor for families is Willowbrook Park, a 164-acre stretch with a pond, walking paths, playgrounds, and the Carousel for All Children, a fully accessible Victorian-style merry-go-round that goes for a dollar a ride. On a weekend morning you will see strollers on the paths, ducks on the pond, and kids running between picnic areas and playground equipment. It is the kind of park you can sink a few unhurried hours into. This is a car-dependent neighborhood. Most families drive to the park and to activities; bus routes run along Victory Boulevard but the area is spread out, so having a car makes life considerably easier. On the organized-activity front, SB4U Academy runs classes here, and NYC Parks brings programming to the area as well. The 19 events currently on the calendar cover a range of ages and formats, so there is a reasonable amount to pick from without having to trek far from home.