Parks

Battery Park

Battery Park is a park on the southern tip of Manhattan that faces New York Harbor. The park provides excellent views of the Statue of Liberty, the Staten Island Ferry and some of New York's less noted islands.

Recommended by Tod Seelie

Central Park

Central Park's 843 acres include 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns, and 150 acres of water in 7 waterbodies. The Park's six-mile perimeter extends from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street to 110th Street. Central Park is the first public park built in America.  A competition for the design was held in 1858.  The winners were Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Central Park is completely man-made.  It took 15 years and over $14 million (roughly $200 million today) to build the Park in accordance with Olmsted and Vaux's Greensward Plan.

Recommended by Irwin Kula, Lorie Karnath

Ellis Island

Ellis Island, at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, is the location of what was from January 1, 1892, until November 12, 1954 the main entry facility for immigrants entering the United States.

The facility replaced the state-run Castle Garden Immigration Depot (1855-1890) in Manhattan. It is owned by the Federal government and is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, under the jurisdiction of the US National Park Service. It is situated in Jersey City, New Jersey and New York City.

Recommended by Brad Hirschfield

Governors Island

Governors Island, in the heart of New York Harbor, is only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. It is a world unto itself, unique and full of promise.

Recommended by Peter McGough

McCarren Park

McCarren Park is a public park located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.  It is bordered by Nassau Avenue, Bayard Street, Lorimer Street and North 12th Street. It is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park is a popular destination for recreational softball, volleyball, soccer, handball, and other games. It is also used for sunbathing and dog-walking. In late 2004, the park's track was resurfaced and has been a popular destination for running enthusiasts.

Prospect Park

Prospect Park is a 585-acre public park in Brooklyn located between Park Slope, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It is run and operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and is part of the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway.

Recommended by Ari Up , Danny Jacobs

Riverside Park

Riverside Park is Manhattan's most spectacular waterfront park, stretching four miles from 72nd to 158th Streets along the Hudson River. Since 1875, the landscapes of Frederick Law Olmsted have offered escape from the city and opportunities for people of all incomes to relax, play and socialize in tranquil settings. His design for Riverside Drive made it is one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world, affording views of the Hudson River along its serpentine route.

Recommended by Ted Rall

The Highline

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan's streets. Section 1 of the High Line is open as a public park, owned by the City of New York and operated under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Friends of the High Line is the conservancy charged with raising private funds for the park and overseeing its maintenance and operations, pursuant to an agreement with the Parks Department.

Recommended by Josh Hadar

Tompkins Square Park

In August 1988, a riot erupted in the park when police attempted to clear the park of homeless people; 44 people were injured. Bystanders as well as homeless people and political activists got caught up in the police action that took place on the night of August 6 and the early morning of August 7, after a large number of police surrounded the park and charged at the hemmed-in crowd while other police ordered all pedestrians not to walk on streets neighboring the park.

Recommended by Spain Rodriguez

Wave Hill

Over a century old, the Wave Hill estate of Riverdale is one of New York City’s most beautiful parks. The property was first developed by William Lewis Morris, who named the estate Wave Hill. The Morris family resided at Wave Hill from 1843 to 1852. In 1865, the famous publisher William H. Appleton purchased the estate and used it as a summer residence until 1903. During Appleton’s time as proprietor, tenants included such figures as Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt. In 1903 Appleton sold the property to George W.

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