On the lookout for the very best parks in NYC?
Ahhhh, New York Metropolis. The King of Cities. You will discover absolutely anything you need in New York. However…they don’t name it the “Concrete Jungle” for nothing. Inexperienced areas are at a premium in NYC. Heck, they’re a premium even inside a few of NYC’s well-known parks. You gained’t discover a lot grass to sit down on in Washington Sq. Park, as an illustration.
By no means concern, there ARE some nice inexperienced areas to relax out in in NYC. Extra yearly, it appears. And that’s a really excellent factor. Let’s discover a number of the greatest parks in New York, and discover the proper place so that you can loosen up!
The Finest Parks in NYC
New York Metropolis consists of 5 boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. So, let’s break down the very best parks in New York Metropolis by borough, simply to make issues a bit simpler.
Please notice – A few of our alternatives comprise affiliate hyperlinks. These enable us to earn a small proportion each time you make a reserving. Utilizing our hyperlinks allows us to supply all the knowledge discovered on this website freed from cost.
Finest Parks in Manhattan
Central Park
One phrase that greatest describes Central Park? We’ll go along with iconic.
That is by far probably the most well-known park in NYC. Seen in numerous of films and tv exhibits Central Park is among the greatest identified landmarks in all the metropolis. This huge park is an oasis from the fixed thrum of the Large Apple, and needs to be on everybody’s listing of locations to go to in NYC.
You possibly can spend hours upon hours exploring all of the nooks and crannies of Central Park. And when you’re accomplished you possibly can go to one of many quite a few museums present in (or in very shut proximity) to its borders.
If you wish to discover the park with a neighborhood information, whereas driving bike undoubtedly try this cool tour!
Landmarks You Need to Go to in Central Park
- The Metropolitan Museum of Artwork
- Strawberry Fields
- Bethesda Terrace
- The Mall and Literary Stroll
- Belvedere Fortress
- The Conservatory Backyard
- The Loeb Boathouse
For a strolling tour of Central Park and its landmarks, examine this one out!
Riverside Park
Stretching 4 lazy miles from 72nd road to 158th streets alongside the Hudson River, Riverside Park is the biggest and maybe most scenic river park in Manhattan. It’s an important place to go for a run, a stroll, or a motorbike experience on the river.
You’ll additionally discover all method of leisure services in Riverside Park, together with a skate park, sports activities fields, and play grounds. Should you’re on the Higher West Aspect and wish to get away from the fixed thrum of metropolis life, that is pretty much as good a spot as any.
Union Sq. Park
Union Sq. is a good little park to have a lunch on a pleasant day in Decrease Manhattan. Half pedestrian plaza and half park, all types of actions happen day by day right here. You’ll additionally discover a small play floor for teenagers in case you are exploring Manhattan with the little ones.
From 8:00 am to six:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays you’ll find the Union Sq. Inexperienced Market right here. It’s an important place to get your arms on domestically sourced produce and baked items. Contemplating the truth that a great deal of NYC eating places inventory their kitchen from this market, we reckon it’s an important one to select up some pristine produce and handmade goodies from.
Throughout the road from Union Sq. Park, on seventeenth between Park Ave. and Broadway sits the biggest bookstore in New York Metropolis! The flagship Barnes&Noble, which we love visiting on wet days (or each time we get hungry for a brand new e book). In order for you one thing extra old skool, head to Strand Bookstore. It’s additionally close by! So, for those who’re a e book nerd like we’re, go there as too!
Simply hop on any of the subway strains that run into Union Sq. to entry this basic NYC park.
The Battery (Previously Battery Park)
Nestled on the very backside of the island of Manhattan is the Battery. You’ll find 25 acres of harbor views, bike paths, some lawns, and an city backyard.
The Battery overlooks New York Harbor, which is dwelling to the Statue of Liberty. On a transparent day you will get a pleasant view of one of the crucial iconic statues in all the world. It’s an important place to convey a packed lunch and soak within the solar, earlier than slipping again into the crowded streets of NYC.
Washington Sq. Park
What Washington Sq. Park lacks in grassy areas for sitting and picnicking it makes up for with sheer character.
Lengthy gone are the times when determined youngsters looking for a dime bag flocked to WSP to seek out shady sellers. At this time the park is cleaner and safer, and it’s an important spot to relax out for a bit whereas navigating Manhattan’s Decrease East Aspect.
Should you get fortunate there will likely be a man sitting at a grand piano on the north facet of the park enjoying classical music with the aptitude of a skilled orchestral performer.
The Excessive-Line
As soon as an elevated practice observe, now an city oasis, the Excessive-Line is among the most original parks in NYC. Open from midday to eight:00 pm, in case you are on the Decrease West Aspect and wish a couple of moments of peace, you owe it to your self to walk the Excessive-Line.
You’re more likely to see cool artwork installations and all method of flowers and concrete greenery when exploring the Excessive-Line.
Finest Parks in Brooklyn
Prospect Park
Prospect Park is OLD, virtually as previous as Central Park really. And it was designed by the identical particular person, which is a cool little tidbit of trivia. Prospect Park can be probably the loveliest of Brooklyn’s parks…for those who don’t thoughts dodging child carriages each few steps. We’re simply kidding…principally. There ARE loads of new households in Prospect Heights and Park Slope, however the park is greater than massive sufficient to accommodate the individuals flocking to it on good days.
You’ll find two lakes right here, and quite a few spots to picnic and chill within the grass on the 520 acres of nature discovered throughout the park’s borders. Sports activities fields and playgrounds are aplenty, as properly.
In order for you a extremely unbelievable expertise, try Drummers Grove on Sunday afternoons throughout hotter months. Watch the video under for a sneak peek.
McCarren Park
This cozy park in Greenpoint is a good place for a softball sport or a weekend picnic. If you’re brunching in Williamsburg you possibly can come right here and have a seat within the grass for a bit. As a bonus it’s way more native than it’s a vacationer attraction. So, you’ll see “actual New Yorkers” (however actually simply newly transplanted hipsters) engaged in all method of lazing round.
Bonus: There’s a nice operating observe subsequent door to the park, and a few tennis courts out there by the automotive highschool throughout the road, as properly.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Providing candy views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the decrease Manhattan skyline this can be a great spot to loosen up in Brooklyn. Come right here within the night for an opportunity at a phenomenal sundown over town as properly.
If you’re in search of iconic views to replenish your SD card, this is among the greatest parks in New York Metropolis to go to.
Domino Park
One of many newer additions to the Brooklyn waterfront growth, this park is positioned on the grounds of the previous Domino Sugar manufacturing facility. Should you’re an actual New Yorker you’ll keep in mind this towering constructing in Williamsburg. Perhaps you’ve had nightmares of it, because it all the time appeared like an important place to movie a horror film.
Anyway, as of late the grounds are dwelling to a really good park (designed by the parents behind the Excessive-Line) the place you possibly can learn a e book on one of many many benches overlooking the East River in peace. Experience your bike right here from Greenpoint or Bushwick and hang around, or convey the children to make use of the close by playground.
As a bonus, Domino Park is canine pleasant, so you possibly can convey your pup right here too!
WNYC Transmitter Park
One other comparatively new addition to the Brooklyn waterfront is that this small, but cozy park in Greenpoint. Situated on the finish of Greenpoint Avenue you possibly can head right here (with out your canine sadly) to catch some solar, and a few river views of Midtown Manhattan.
Marine Park
Many individuals, together with us, consider Prospect Park as the biggest park in Brooklyn. In actuality, that title goes to the scenic Marine Park in southern Brooklyn, close to Sheapshead Bay. You’ll find 540 acres of protected salt marshes and grassland right here, and way more!
Sports activities fanatics will love the park for its golf course, cricket fields, bocce courts, and a few baseball diamonds. The park additionally incorporates a number of playgrounds, bicycle trails, and a launch website for canoes and kayaks at Gerritsen inlet.
What extra are you able to ask for out of an city park? It won’t be the best place to succeed in from Manhattan for those who aren’t driving, however Marine Park is a legit member of the very best parks in NYC listing.
Brooklyn Botanical Backyard
What’s going to you discover within the Brooklyn Botanical Backyard? Properly….52 acres of beautiful pure magnificence, within the coronary heart of Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Botanical Backyard is really an oasis.
Among the many stunning gardens you possibly can discover right here is an incredible Cherry Blossoms Esplanade which is completely breath-taking in the course of the blossom season. You’ll additionally discover a Japanese-styled backyard, a woodlands backyard, and the delectable Shakespeare Backyard which options over 80 completely different examples of vegetation and flowers talked about within the Bard’s tales.
If you’re visiting this park of Brooklyn for the primary time ensure that after you’re accomplished strolling by means of Prospect Park you head throughout the road to pay a go to to this bit or city magnificence.
Admission is free from Tuesday to Friday in December by means of February, and is all the time free for teenagers beneath the age of 12.
Finest Parks in Queens
Astoria Park
This park gives 60 acres of lawns, fields, and playgrounds all located alongside the East River beneath the Triborough and Hell Gate Bridges. Additionally, you will discover the biggest public pool within the metropolis in Astoria Park, for these days if you badly want to chill off and get a few of that humid NYC grime off of your pores and skin.
Should you stay in Astoria you in all probability go to this park usually, and for those who don’t then…you must test it out, at the least as soon as.
Hunter’s Level South Park
Till lately this park was only a bunch of deserted warehouses and put up apocalyptic industrial wasteland. As lately because the early 2000s you’ll solely go right here for those who wished to get mugged.
At this time because of the doubtful joys of gentrification, the park is a phenomenal waterfront gem. Simply ignore the towering condos and give attention to the riverside views of Midtown Manhattan. You’ll additionally discover a canine run, some playgrounds, and grownup gymnasium space, and a few good inexperienced grass to put out on. Nice for residents of Lengthy Island Metropolis trying to take a break from all of the concrete, or for anybody biking from Manhattan or Brooklyn.
Kissena Park
This 250 acre park in Flushing was one in every of our favorites once we lived within the space. To this present day the park is a shining instance of city greenery.
You’ll find a number of fields, playgrounds, and relax areas in Kissena Park. However the true star is the pond/lake, and the gorgeous stroll you possibly can have round its perimeter.
After you’re accomplished exploring or chilling at Kissena you possibly can take the Kissena Park hall and make your approach all the best way to Flushing Meadows Park.
Flushing Meadows Park
Flushing Meadows Park achieved fame by internet hosting two World Festivals in the course of the twentieth century. Even for those who haven’t visited NYC you in all probability acknowledge the globe (referred to as the Unisphere) within the image above. It’s been a landmark within the Large Apple since 1964.
Lately Flushing Meadows is a good place to go for a couple of hours for household picnics, sports activities actions, play grounds, and every part else that makes NYC parks nice. Whereas there you possibly can pay a go to to the following park on our listing.
You may also discover Citi Area, dwelling of the NY Mets, the Billie Jean King Tennis Heart, and the New York Corridor of Science on this expansive park.
Queens Botanical Backyard
Should you stay in Queens and you want your self some stunning gardens visiting this one is a no brainer. From a wetlands backyard to a cheeky little meadow you’ll find a variety of botanical goodness right here. And in case you are in search of a spot to relax and loosen up that is just about an ideal little city getaway.
The Queens Botanical Backyard is open from 8:00 am to six:00 pm Tuesday by means of Sunday. Admission is free between November and March, by the best way. Take benefit!
Finest Parks within the Bronx
Van Cortland Park
With over 1,000 acres of land, Van Cortland is the third largest park in all of New York Metropolis. As such it gives all kinds of actions starting from a public golf course to grime bike trails and every part in between.
Wave Hill Park
This stunning park may be present in northern Bronx among the many expansive estates of the Riverdale neighborhood. Perched overlooking the Hudson River Wave Hill is a surprising park not like some other in New York Metropolis. You’re more likely to completely overlook you’re within the Bronx when you stroll over the hills and thru the paths you will see close by. As a bonus you’ll get some spectacular views of New Jersey’s rivers facet cliffs throughout the Hudson.
Are available in autumn to see the foliage or, go to in spring for blossoms and blooming magnificence. Everytime you determine to go to you’ll discover one in every of NYC’s greatest parks nestled away on this tiny nook of the Bronx.
Bronx Botanical Backyard
The Bronx Botanical Backyard is the biggest such backyard in any metropolis in all the USA. Over 250 acres of preserved pure magnificence may be discovered throughout the boundaries of this city gem.
You and your whole household will discover over 50 completely different gardens on show right here, in what quantities to be a residing museum, and an ode to the great thing about nature.
Admission is $15 for NYC residents, and free on Wednesdays.
Finest Parks in Staten Island
Who cares about Staten Island?
Simply kidding…we’re certain there are a couple of individuals on the market that do. We, nonetheless, don’t so if you wish to know extra about Staten Island’s parks head right here.
There you go of us, 22 choices for the very best parks in NYC. We hope you discover some peace and quiet whereas exploring the greener elements of the Large Apple. Keep protected and wholesome, and we’ll see you on the street!
