Staten Island’s Hidden Gem: Mount Loretto Unique Area
A Hidden Gem: The Mount Loretto Unique Area
Nestled in the southern reaches of Staten Island, the Mount Loretto Unique Area is one of two state parks in the borough, just off Hylan Boulevard, maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). With a few miles of hiking trails, a pavilion, a lighthouse, a mile of coastline, and even a shrine to the Virgin Mary, the Unique Area is a relaxing spot for a jaunt, a bit of fishing, or quiet contemplation.
Cunningham Pond is one of the area’s bodies of water, next to Mount Loretto Pond.. Image Credit – J Barnes
The area takes its name from one of the original owners of the land, Father John Christopher Drumgoole, who bought the surrounding areas in 1882. The priest intended to build a foster home and school for the city’s homeless children on the land. Father Drumgoole chose the land for his mission as it reminded him of his hometown of Abbeylara in County Longford, Ireland, and named the land after a religious sister he was friends with.
For over a century, the site was a part of the mission Father Drumgoole founded, called the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto, or Mount Loretto for short. Then, in 1999, the Archdiocese of New York decided to sell off the southern part of the property. Developers, eager to transform the virgin land into a network of condominiums with breathtaking views of the ocean, offered the Archdiocese 150 million dollars. Instead, the Archdiocese sold it to the state of New York to be turned into a state park for only 75 million dollars. Hence, it is now the Mount Loretto Unique Area, where deer roam through the grass, bald eagles nest in the trees, and seals can be found sunning themselves on the beach, their habitats preserved in thanks to the efforts of the archdiocese.
“Due to the diversity of ecosystems, there is an abundance of wildlife on the property,” said Dan Hickey, forester at Mount Loretto. “I enjoy working in a field where I get to work outdoors helping to improve the natural world,” he added.
The area has other ties to the archdiocese. An old, now defunct lighthouse and cottage sits atop the landscape’s tallest hill, to which John Cardinal O’Connor, archbishop of New York, hoped to retire to one day, though His Eminence passed away before his wish could be fulfilled. The lighthouse now bears his name.
A boardwalk runs through the area’s marshland.. Image Credit – J Barnes
Aside from the area’s gentle hills and winding boardwalks, several paths lead to the ocean, where fishing piers beckon. Other paths lead to an overlook with a pavilion and picnic tables, suitable for all sorts of events. The boardwalk was recently finished by the DEC Operations division to make the area more accessible, along with numerous other features such as a stone trail and a viewing area.
Views of the Atlantic Ocean stretch out at one’s feet.. Image Credit – J Barnes
A shrine dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was built in the area by Staten Island locals Katherine and Helen Tracy in honor of their deceased brothers, Michael and John Tracy. The shrine still sits by the seashore, nearly a century later, decorated with hundreds of rosaries, statuaries, scapulars, busts, images, icons, and even a snowglobe.
Faces look out from all sorts of miniatures and prayer cards, left by mourners and family members. A pair of boxing gloves graced the shrine, which, like every other relic, tells a silent story.
“Mount Loretto Unique Area is special for many reasons, including its rich history, historic lighthouse, abundance of walking trails, and accessibility to the public. It also has a wide diversity of habitats, such as meadows, ponds, wetlands, woodlands, and marine/ coastal areas, that provides the public with a variety of natural experiences to enjoy,” says Forester Hickey. “Making a direct impact on the ground to improve our natural areas makes working for the DEC very rewarding.”
As one walks back to Hylan Boulevard and civilization, the tallest building in Staten Island looms on the horizon: The Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne’s steeple can be seen on the horizon, rising above the tallgrass like the finger of the Almighty.
An aerial tour of the area can be seen on the DEC’s YouTube channel. The Mount Loretto Unique Area can be accessed by the S59 or the S78, or by car. Free parking is available.
Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island. Image Credit – J Barnes
Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island. Image Credit – J Barnes
Banner Image: Shrine at Mount Loretto. Image Credit – J. Barnes
J. Barnes
J. Barnes is a freelance writer from New York City. His writing has previously been published in The New York Groove, The Lamp, and Tay Bridge Press, the world's only bad poetry magazine. You can check out his works on his Muckrack.
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