Conference House Park facts for kids
Conference House Park is a cool park located in Tottenville, a neighborhood on Staten Island in New York City. It sits right along the Arthur Kill waterway, where it opens into Raritan Bay. The park has unique clay bluffs, which are part of a large pile of rocks and dirt left behind when the Wisconsin Glacier melted about 10,000 years ago. You can also find Ward's Point here, which is the very southernmost tip of New York state!
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Park
Conference House Park gets its name from the famous Conference House. This old stone house was built around 1680. It became very important during the American Revolution.
The Famous Peace Conference
On September 11, 1776, a special meeting called the Staten Island Peace Conference happened at the Conference House. Lord Howe represented the British Crown, trying to stop the war. He met with leaders from the Continental Congress, including Benjamin Franklin. They hoped to find a peaceful way to end the fighting.
Old Houses and New Changes
The land where the park is now was once part of Bentley Manor. This large estate belonged to the Billop family. Besides the Conference House, other historic buildings are also in the park. These include the Henry Hogg Biddle house, built between 1845 and 1853, and the Ward House and Rutan-Beckett House.
In 2002, a new pavilion opened in the park. Major improvements began in 2017. These plans included fixing up the Biddle House and adding new educational displays. There were also plans for more playgrounds, making the park even better for everyone.
Exploring the Park's Cool Features
Conference House Park offers many interesting things to see and do. It combines nature, history, and fun activities.
Ancient History: Lenape People
Deep within the park, away from the clay bluffs, is a special area called Burial Ridge. This was once a campsite and burial ground for the Lenape Native American people. In the late 1700s, George H. Pepper from the American Museum of Natural History studied the site. He found remains of Lenape people buried there. You can still see piles of ancient shell middens along the shoreline. These piles of shells show where the Lenape people once lived and ate.
Fun Things to Do and See
The park has a pavilion on the west beach with a bright turquoise roof. There are also many paths perfect for walking and biking. Kids love the Lenape playground, named after the area's original Native American inhabitants. It's a popular spot for families from the Tottenville neighborhood.
New York's Southernmost Point
Conference House Park is home to Ward's Point. This spot is the southernmost point in both New York City and New York state. Many community events happen here each year. A popular fireworks show takes place every 4th of July. Between 2002 and 2004, the park was updated. This included building the pavilion, paths, and playground. A new visitors' center and parking area were also added. Sometimes, the park is called Swinnerton Park, especially when talking about the Lenape playground. From the footpaths, you can see towns in New Jersey across Raritan Bay. The pavilion offers great views of the Arthur Kill and Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
See also
In Spanish: Conference House Park para niños
