BROOKLYN WATERFRONT GREENWAY:
SHORE PARKWAY GREENWAY:
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: December 14, 2024
Length: Shore Parkway Greenway; Western Section; 6.1 miles [3.2 mile GAP]
Shore Parkway Greenway; Eastern Section; 8.4 miles [3.2 mile GAP]
Shore Road Park Trail; 2.7 miles
Shore Parkway Greenway/Shore Road Park Trail Loop; 5.4 mile Loop
Shirley Chisholm Park Trails; 10 miles
Spring Creek Park Trail; 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Shore Parkway Greenway; Easy. Mostly flat paved trail.
Directions:
To Start from Owls Head Park for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway; Shore Parkway Greenway [Northern End]; From the Shore/Belt Pkwy take exit 1 to Shore Rd. Turn right onto Ridge Blvd, then right on 67th St to Colonial Rd. Owls Head Park is across the road. Find on street parking. The trailhead is right at the end of Colonial Rd.
The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a planned 29 mile route along the Brooklyn waterfront. Starting from the East River & Newton Creek (The planned Queens Waterfront Greenway will start North, across Newton Creek), the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will travel South, along the East River, connecting Manhattan Avenue Park, Greenpoint Playground, Greenpoint Landing Esplanade, Newtown Barge Playground, WNYC Transmitter Park, Bushwick Inlet Park, Marsha P. Johnson State Park, North 5th Street Pier and Park, Grand Ferry Park, Domino Sugar Park, Domino Park, Schaefer Landing, Roberto Clemente Ballfield, Jacob's Ladder Playground and the Naval Cemetery Landscape. It then turns West, past the Brooklyn Navy Yard, connecting the Oxport Playground, Commodore Barry Park, Pebble Beach, Empire Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge Park, before turning South, out to the Upper Bay. It will then continue South, connecting the Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier, Waterfront Museum, Erie Basin Park, Columbia Street Esplanade, Red Hook Park, Bush Terminal Piers Park, to Owls Head Park and the start of the Shore Parkway Greenway; Western Section. The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway & Shore Parkway Greenway; Western Section follows the Shore Parkway/Belt Parkway South, to the Lower Bay. A separate trail travels South, through South Road Park to John Paul Jones Park. The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway & Shore Parkway Greenway; Western Section continues Southeast, past Bensonhurst Park & Calvert Vaux Park. Here you'll encounter a GAP that requires both on-road & BIKE LANES East. Along this GAP, you can also access the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway when you cross Ocean Pkwy. Continuing East, you travel alongside Sheepshead Bay to Lew Fidler Park and Jamaica Bay, where you connect to the Jamaica Bay Greenway, part of the Gateway NRA; Jamaica Bay . The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, Shore Parkway Greenway; Eastern Section & Jamaica Bay Greenway all continue Northeast, along Jamaica Bay, past Canarsie Park, Shirley Chisholm State Park & Spring Creek Park to the Northern Tip of Jamaica Bay. This is the end of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway & Shore Parkway Greenway. The Jamaica Bay Greenway continues South, through Jamaica Bay. See; Gateway NRA; Jamaica Bay . The planned Southern Queens Greenway will continue East. For more information visit; BROOKLYN WATERFRONT GREENWAY & SHORE PARKWAY GREENWAY CONNECTOR .
Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway:
Northern Section:
I haven't checked out any of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway's Northern Sections.
Shore Parkway Greenway; Western Section:
Starting from Owls Head Park for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway; Shore Parkway Greenway [Northern End]; From the intersection of Colonial Road and Wakeman Pl, the paved Shore Road Park Trail travels West, between Shore Rd and Owls Head Park. Exit the park and cross Shore Rd where the trail continues South, to Bay Ridge Ave after 0.5 miles. 2 Trail Options from here:
1. Straight, South, the Shore Road Park Trail continues between Shore Rd through Shore Road Park. I Looped back along this trail. See; Shore Road Park Trail Below.
2. Turn right through the tunnel underneath the Shore/Belt Pkwy to the American Veterans Memorial Pier. Views right of the Statue of Liberty. Head left, South, along the paved Shore Parkway Greenway (separate path for pedestrians) as it travels between the Upper Bay on your right and the Shore/Belt Pkwy along your left. Pass by a pedestrian bridge across the Shore/Belt Pkwy at 1.2 miles, that leads to Shore Road Park and the Old Glory Lookout promenade. Pass another pedestrian bridge at 1.9 miles to Shore Road Park. As you approach the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge at 2.5 miles, on your left is the Shore/Belt Pkwy parking lot. This was as far as I traveled.
Shore Road Park Trail:
Note; To Loop back to Owls Head Park via the Shore Road Park Trails bear left up the ramp to 4th Ave. Cross over the Shore/Belt Pkwy to Shore Rd and look left to spot the paved Shore Road Park Trail after 2.6 miles. [Re-zeroing Mileage]. Right, East, across 4th Ave is John Paul Jones Park. Head North, into Shore Road Park, which travels below Shore Rd along a narrow wooded green space. Sports fields, field house, playground, splash park. The trail then exits the green space up to Shore Rd (Stairs. If biking you can utilize the curb to push your bike up to Shore Rd). Head left along the pavers trail. Pass by a promenade with a pergola. After 1.2 miles, by 88th St, turn left back down along the paved green space. The trail splits around a ball field, then passes by the Old Glory Lookout promenade up right and pedestrian bride over the Shore/Belt Pkwy on your left. Come to another split in the trail around more sports fields, playground, splash park and restrooms. Come to another set of stairs at 2 miles and head up to Shore Rd. Quickly turn left, down through the Narrows Botanical Gardens, where the trail splits again, then back up to Shore Rd. Head left across Bay Ridge Ave and back along the green space. Cross Shore Rd and return to Owls Head Park. This time however, head right, East, along the Southern Border of the park. Pass some restrooms and just before exiting the park turn left, North, along the Eastern Border. Playground, splash park, basketball courts and finally a Skate Park before reaching the Northern Border. Head right, West, to the junction of Colonial Rd and Wakeman Pl after 2.7 miles [5.4 mile Loop].
Continuing Southeast, along the Shore Parkway Greenway, travel underneath the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge, past Denyse Wharf. After 3.7 miles come to a Spur Trail on your left.
Note; This Spur Trail will take you over the Shore/Belt Pkwy to Dyker Beach Park.
Continuing between the Shore/Belt Pkwy & Gravesend Bay, the trail soon splits (bear left) around Shore Parkway Park, before coming to Bay Pkwy at 4.9 miles. Follow a double-wide sidewalk a short distance before picking up a 2-WAY SEPARATED BIKE LANE along BUS Shore Pkwy (one-way commercial street). After 5.5 miles you'll come to Calvert Vaux Park.
Note; The Calvert Vaux Park Greenway Loops 1.5 miles around this park. I haven't checked out this trail.
Continuing along the 2-WAY SEPARATED BIKE LANE, you bear right, South, along W 22nd St to Bay 52nd St at 5.9 miles, where the BIKE LANE ends. Continue straight along a double-wide sidewalk to Bay 53rd St. A One-Way BIKE LANE travels East, out to Cropsey Ave after 6.1 miles.
Note; The One-Way BIKE LANE along Bay 53rd St is the Wrong-Way. Instead, I would continue straight to Home Depot and head left, East, through the parking lot to Bay 54th Street and out to Cropsey Ave after 6.1 miles.
Note; A 3.2 mile GAP exists, as of 2024, to the next section and requires utilizing on-road and BIKE LANES along very busy, congested roads. Not recommended for novice bikers.
On-Road GAP:
Continuing from Bay 54th Street & Cropsey Ave; [Re-zeroing Mileage] Turn right, South, on-road (No shoulder/sidewalk available) along Cropsey Ave and cross over Coney Island Creek to Neptune Ave in Coney Island. Turn left along a BIKE LANE and travel through a congested downtown. Cross Ocean Pkwy at 7.4 miles.
Note; The Brooklyn-Queens Greenway crosses here.
You'll lose the BIKE LANE at 7.8 miles just before crossing Coney Island Ave. Continue on-road, traveling underneath a RR bridge. Pass by Cass Pl and you'll pick up a BIKE LANE again. Come to Shore Blvd at 8.1 miles.
Note; The cement Shore Blvd Path travels South, through Holocaust Memorial Park, then East, between Shore Blvd & the Southern Side of Sheepshead Bay for 1 mile, before it turns into a narrow sidewalk.
Neptune Ave becomes Emmons Ave, where a 2-WAY SEPARATED BIKE LANE takes you along the Northern Side of Sheepshead Bay. Finally, you come to Brigham Street and the Lew Fidler Park parking lot, on your right, where you pick up the paved Jamaica Bay Greenway and the Shore Parkway Greenway after 3.2 miles.
Shore Parkway Greenway; Eastern Section:
Continuing from the Lew Fidler Park parking lot/Brigham Street [Western End]; This is also the start of the Gateway National Recreation Area; Jamaica Bay . [Re-zeroing Mileage] The paved Shore Parkway Greenway/Jamaica Bay Greenway travels between the Shore/Belt Pkwy & GNRA Beaches, passing by the Gateway National Recreation Area; Plumb Beach parking lot. Cross a bridge over Gerritsen Inlet, where the trail turns North. Come to an intersection, just before Flatbush Ave at 1.9 miles.
Note; Left takes you North, to a sidewalk along Flatbush Ave.
Head right, South, to a cross-light over Flatbush Ave, where you'll find a Map Board.
Note; Right takes you South, along the Jamaica Bay Greenway. See; Gateway National Recreation Area; Jamaica Bay .
Continue left, North, along the wide, paved Shore Parkway Greenway/Jamaica Bay Greenway. I've checked out this section. Bear right at the next intersection, where the trail travels Northeast, alongside the Shore/Belt Pkwy. Open trail with limited views of Jamaica Bay. Slight climb up the Mill Basin Bridge, which crosses over Mill Basin at 2.8 miles. Good views of Manhattan from here. Slight climb up the Paerdegat Basin Bridge, which crosses over Paerdegat Basin. Look right to spot uninhabited Canarsie Pol Island in the middle of Jamaica Bay. Quickly come to a Spur Trail on your right at 4.4 miles.
Note; This trail heads right, South, then West, underneath the Shore/Belt Pkwy to CANARSIE PARK . Sports fields, Skate Park, playground and restrooms and paved Trails. I haven't checked out these trails.
Next come to Canarsie Pier at 5 miles. Restrooms, water fountain and picnic tables. Cross the Fresh Creek Bridge, over Fresh Creek, before coming to Penn Ave on your left and the entrance to the Penn Side of SHIRLEY CHISHOLM SP on your right, at 6 miles. Penn parking lot.
Note; Rising up 130 feet above sea level, Shirley Chisholm Park occupies some of the highest ground in New York City and offers spectacular panoramic views of the Empire State Building to the Northwest, the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge and New York Harbor to the West, and Jamaica Bay to the South. The site sits atop the former Pennsylvania and Fountain Avenue landfills. The park consists of 2 areas. The Penn Side, which is located on the Southern Side of Hendrix Creek and the Fountain Side, which is located on the Northern Side of Hendrix Creek. Paved and gravel Bike Trails, along with Free Bike Rentals. Penn Pier & Dock, Fountain Pier, Hendrix Creek Patio Dock, informational signs, water fountain and picnic tables. See; Map Below. I haven't checked out these trails.
Next, you cross a bridge over Hendrix Creek and pass by a Spur Trail to the Fountain Side Trails of Shirley Chisholm SP at 6.4 miles. Pass the Erskine Street Bridge on your left at 6.8 miles.
Note; If you head left, across this bridge, it will bring you to the start of the Spring Creek Park Trail on your left, next to Gateway Dr. I haven't checked out this trail. This paved trail travels West, through this narrow park to the Roy A. Sweeney Cricket Oval at 0.5 miles. Overlook of Hendrix Creek. The trail then turns North, alongside Hendrix Creek and ends after 1.1 miles at Vandalia Ave. Almost entirely marshland, Spring Creek Park serves as open greenery for various species of birds, including great blue herons, egrets, red-winged blackbirds, pheasants, and mallards, as well as animals such as deer, raccoons, and muskrats.
Cross the Betts Creek Bridge, over Betts Creek and come to a Spur Trail on your right at 7.6 miles.
Note; This Spur Trail will take you down to 78th St.
Come to 84th St after 8 miles.
Note; Here the Jamaica Bay Greenway continues right, South. See; Gateway National Recreation Area; Jamaica Bay .
The Shore Parkway Greenway continues across 84th St, however, No Crosswalk. You'll need to head right, South, along a BIKE LANE to 157th Ave, where you'll find a cross-walk. Then head North, back along a BIKE LANE to the Shore Parkway Greenway, which continues Northeast, ending at 90th St after 8.4 miles.
The planned Southern Queens Greenway will continue East.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR SHIRLEY CHISHOLM PARK MAP
CLICK HERE FOR CANARSIE PARK TRAILS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR SPRING CREEK PARK TRAILS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR NY CITY 2024 BIKE MAP
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