The City of New York simply has it all. There’s the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and Times Square. New York is a world-class destination and largest city in the country also has some of the most familiar parks. The following are the five best parks in New York City.
1) Central Park – When you think of a single park in New York, it’s fairly likely that you will instantly think of Central Park. By far the largest and most prominent park in the city, Central Park stretches over 50 blocks long and 4 blocks wide. Central Park is an iconic American place whose history goes back over 150 years and has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Government. Within the expansive park, you can find a number of outdoor recreational activities such as boating, ice-skating, cycling, jogging, and walking. There is also plenty of entertainment for kids and adults with over 20 playgrounds, a zoo, a Carousel, live theater and world class music concerts. Some of the largest outdoors concerts were performed in Central Park, including an historic performance by Simon and Garfunkle as well as Shakespeare in the Park in the summer months. If you are a fan of the Beatles’ or John Lennon, you must visit Strawberry Fields near West 72nd St. and Central Park West.
2) Brooklyn Bridge Park – This park in Brooklyn offers perhaps the grandest and one of the most sweeping views of the New York City skyline. Each day thousands of people walk along the Brooklyn Promenade to take in the Big Apple’s skyline. The promenade has been the scene of countless television shows and movies and many famous people, both present and past have lived in the nearby Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Recent improvements have made Brooklyn Bridge Park more popular than ever.
3) Washington Square Park – In the heart of Greenwich Village, this park is both a very popular place for locals as well as a major tourist attraction. The park has been the scene of many free music concerts particularly during the summer month, as well as political rallies. You will experience, artists, writers, actors and an eclectic collection of New Yorkers, in addition to the many students from the bordering New York University passing through and spending time with friends. During the summer months, there are even free yoga classes to help you get limbered and more focused for your day. For families with children there is a playground on the property and if you have a dog, they’re allowed to run freely at the park. If you enjoy playing chess, perhaps you might want to challenge of the regulars who frequent Washington Square. The most prominent structure at the park is the well known marble Washington Square Arch, which was influenced by the Arch of Triumph in Paris.
4) Bryant Park – Just a short walk away from Times Square, Bryant Square is an obvious choice for many people who need a place to rest and relax or have lunch in a relatively quiet area in the heart of the city. During the winter months, the Citi Pond skating rink is open for free public access. During the summer months, there are live music concerts and a summer film festival where many classic movies were featured such as Easy Ride, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and In the Heat of the Night. The New York City Public Library resides in Bryant Park.
5) Battery Park – This park makes the last spot on the list primarily because of its view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Staten Island Ferry Island is within walking distance and if you happen to take a trip to Staten Island, you will get yet another incredible view of New York Harbor and the skyline. Battery Park is a popular spot for artists, musicians and street peddlers. The former World Trade Center site is about a half mile away and the New York Stock Exchange is even closer.
If you are in the city, most visitors tend to visit just a few parks. However if your time permits, you will be able to get a better feel of what New Yorkers are able to enjoy on a regular basis. Any of these parks will make other top 5 or top 10 lists so you there is no question you will have an enjoya
