William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge
William T. Davis was a renowned naturalist and entomologist on Staten Island for which the wildlife refuge is dedicated to when you visit with your 15 passenger van rental. This area of the city is sometimes forgotten by tourists, but the trip here is well worth it!
About the man
William Thompson Davis was born in 1862 to a family whose history on Staten Island dates back to the 17th century. Davis was a self-taught naturalist, and co-founder of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island. He made huge contributions to the community nonetheless, which you may learn when you visit with your 15 passenger rental van. Davis wrote two books: Days Afield on Staten Island and Staten Island and Its People. Davis worked to secure 52 acres on Staten Island as a wildlife and bird sanctuary, the first of its kind in New York State.
About the park
This is a great park that you can visit with your large van rental. The year following the establishment of the wildlife refuge, the city acquired 157.62 acres of surrounding land from the Crystal Water Company, which had been bottling and selling water from the spring that runs through the property (although it is no longer safe to drink). This allowed the park to expand, which it did again in the mid-1950s when the city sought to protect the area from being filled and developed. By 1955, there was a total of 260 acres and a nature education center was established. The name was changed in 1982, when it grew to 375 acres. There are walking trails for you to explore when you visit with your large rental van. This is the sixth largest park of more than 1700 in New York City.
Exploring the area
The William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge is located in New Springville on Staten Island with your 15 passenger van rental. This is near the center of the island, and was settled as early as 1680. It was a largely rural area until the 1960s, when a department store opened in the area, followed by the Staten Island Mall. Staten Island is located in the southwest part of the city near New Jersey. It is the least populated borough. This makes it a great place to visit a park and wildlife refuge. You can get here from Brooklyn and New Jersey, as well as by the Staten Island Ferry.
Other area parks
When you visit with your 15 passenger van rental, you can also visit other parks in the area. Pelham Bay Park is the largest park in New York City. There are many things to do here, from walking and running, to relaxing as you explore the grounds. Here you will also fine the Thomas Pell Wildlife Sanctuary. Along with the Hunter Island Zoology and Geology Sanctuary, there are a total of 489 acres of marshes and forests within the park. It is home to a variety of wildlife that is native to the area, including raccoon, egrets, hawks, and coyotes. In the northern part of the park, there is a public access beach, which you can enjoy in the summer. This is the only public beach in The Bronx.
When you visit with your 15 passenger rental van, you will find that the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge is a quiet place to visit on Staten Island. Staten Island is sometimes a forgotten area of the city, but it has a lot to offer while you are here. Be sure to spend the day here walking and exploring as well!
Check out the All Car Rent a Car location at 415 West 45 Street, New York, NY 10036
