NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge bears the name of one of Staten Island's most prominent naturalists. The wide variety of habitats found within this 260-acre refuge make the park an ideal wildlife preserve. The refuge consists of a patchwork of tidal marshland, freshwater wetlands, woodlands and open areas vital to migrating and native species. There is a meandering trail visitors can take to view mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds in their natural surroundings. Established in 1933 by the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, the refuge was the first wildlife sanctuary in New York City.