Prall's Island facts for kids

Prall's Island is a small island where no one lives, located in a waterway called the Arthur Kill. This waterway is between Staten Island, New York, and Linden, New Jersey, in the United States. The island is about 0.36 square kilometers (or 89 acres) in size. It's one of the smaller islands that are part of the Staten Island area in New York City.

What is Prall's Island?

Prall's Island is a quiet, natural spot in a busy area. Even though it's close to big cities, it remains untouched by people living there. This makes it a perfect place for wildlife.

How Did Prall's Island Get Its Name?

The island is named after the Prall family, who were early settlers on Staten Island. One important person in this family was Arendt Jansen Prall Van Naarden, and later his grandson, Abraham Prall, who was a local farmer.

Before it was called Prall's Island, it had other names. It was first known as Dongan's Island. This name came from Thomas Dongan, who was the Governor of New York back in 1688. Over time, the name Dongan's Island changed and became known as Duncan's Island. The name Prall's Island didn't become common until the late 1800s.

A Special Home for Birds

Today, Prall's Island is owned by the City of New York. It is looked after by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. They keep it as a special place called a bird sanctuary. This means it's a safe haven where many different kinds of birds can live and raise their young without being disturbed. It's an important natural area for wildlife in the city.

Images for kids

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  Prall's Island, in the Arthur Kill, is shown in red

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  Prall's Island, looking east from New Jersey