Udalls Cove Park Preserve

Borough: Queens

Acres: 31

Habitat Type: Forest, Salt Marsh, Freshwater Wetland

Map: PDF

In the midst of a developed residential area, this 30-acre inlet off of Little Neck Bay is an important preserve and habitat area for northeastern Queens. The preserve was formed in 1972 to save precious wetlands and forest from the increasing development. On the salt marsh of Udalls Park Preserve, clapper rails (Rallus longirostris) stalk silently through the salt grasses. Snowy egrets (Egretta thula) carefully wade through the calm waters and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) dive for fish.

Aurora Pond is located in the middle of the preserve, its placid waters alive with dragonflies (Odonata spp.) and wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Raccoons (Procyon lotor) also hunt along the edges. Common reed (Phragmites australis) lines the brackish inlet known as Gabler’s Creek, which flows into Little Neck Bay. Wooded uplands of silver maple (Acer saccharinum), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and box elder (Acer negundo) are scattered about The Cove.

Photographs

Directions

By Subway: 7 train to Main Street, then #12 bus to Northern Boulevard and Little Neck Parkway. Walk north on Little Neck Parkway about five blocks to the end (Virginia Point).
By Rail: Long Island Rail Road to Little Neck Station. Walk north on Little Neck Parkway to end (Virginia Point).
By Car: Long Island Expressway or Grand Central Parkway to Little Neck Parkway exit. Continue north on Little Neck Parkway to end (Virginia Point).