Steven's Parks Guide
Manhattan
Here are some of my favorite/more visited parks in the city, but there are so many not listed.
A former elevated train, this narrow park runs from the Village to Hudson yards. Watch the city transform as you walk the length of the park. Can even stop to watch the cars in its various traffic theaters.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
A former elevated train, this narrow park runs from the Village to Hudson yards. Watch the city transform as you walk the length of the park. Can even stop to watch the cars in its various traffic theaters.
A beautiful park on the north east side of Manhattan, you can surround yourself in local life, stroll along the East River, play basketball, swim, and walk the footbridge between Manhattan and the Bronx.
52 locals recommend
Highbridge Park
Amsterdam AvenueA beautiful park on the north east side of Manhattan, you can surround yourself in local life, stroll along the East River, play basketball, swim, and walk the footbridge between Manhattan and the Bronx.
Separating Central Harlem from Morningside Heights, locals come here to exercise, let their dogs play, and look out over 6 story elevation difference in this park.
105 locals recommend
Morningside Park
Morningside DriveSeparating Central Harlem from Morningside Heights, locals come here to exercise, let their dogs play, and look out over 6 story elevation difference in this park.
Right behind the Public Library, this small park sees a lot of action: a christmas market during the holidays, yoga, concerts, and outdoor movies in the summertime. It's a nice place to sit and take a break from shopping or site seeing.
688 locals recommend
Bryant Park
Right behind the Public Library, this small park sees a lot of action: a christmas market during the holidays, yoga, concerts, and outdoor movies in the summertime. It's a nice place to sit and take a break from shopping or site seeing.
Located right next to the Flatiron building, this park is a prime spot for art installations and outdoor performances (the shake shack isn't bad either).
440 locals recommend
Madison Square Park
11 Madison AveLocated right next to the Flatiron building, this park is a prime spot for art installations and outdoor performances (the shake shack isn't bad either).
The Southern tip of Manhattan, you can catch the ferries to the numerous islands (Governors, Staten, Ellis, Liberty). You can visit Castle Clinton, the several veteran memorials, and see views of the statue of Liberty.
353 locals recommend
Battery Park
The Southern tip of Manhattan, you can catch the ferries to the numerous islands (Governors, Staten, Ellis, Liberty). You can visit Castle Clinton, the several veteran memorials, and see views of the statue of Liberty.
Right off the L, this park hosts a near daily farmers market. It's also regular spot for local craft/art vendors.
987 locals recommend
Union Square
Right off the L, this park hosts a near daily farmers market. It's also regular spot for local craft/art vendors.
This park is located in the heart of Greenwich Village. It's a favorite of NYU students and the location of New York's Arc de Triumph.
946 locals recommend
Washington Square Park
Washington SquareThis park is located in the heart of Greenwich Village. It's a favorite of NYU students and the location of New York's Arc de Triumph.
This beautiful uptown park is the location of the Cloisters: the city's religious art museum modeled after a Franciscan monastery.
343 locals recommend
Fort Tryon Park
Dr To BroadwayThis beautiful uptown park is the location of the Cloisters: the city's religious art museum modeled after a Franciscan monastery.
This is the spot where Manhattan Island was "traded" to Peter Minuit in 1626. This spot was central to indigenous life in ways we're still discovering to this day.
146 locals recommend
Inwood Hill Park
Seaman AvenueThis is the spot where Manhattan Island was "traded" to Peter Minuit in 1626. This spot was central to indigenous life in ways we're still discovering to this day.
A very cool park built out into the Hudson River. There is are food trucks, a theater, and lots of installed fun music makers (think the Big piano).
This park has free but ticked entry during peak hours to make sure to look it up beforehand.
114 locals recommend
Little Island
West 13th StreetA very cool park built out into the Hudson River. There is are food trucks, a theater, and lots of installed fun music makers (think the Big piano).
This park has free but ticked entry during peak hours to make sure to look it up beforehand.
Brooklyn
This park looks across the river at Manhattan. Numerous piers line the park with various sports, skating, etc.
951 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman StThis park looks across the river at Manhattan. Numerous piers line the park with various sports, skating, etc.
The promenade is to Brooklyn Bridge Park what Brooklyn Bridge Park is to the East River. It's a beautiful paved walkway looking over the park.
8 locals recommend
Brooklyn Bridge Promenade
Brooklyn Bridge PromenadeThe promenade is to Brooklyn Bridge Park what Brooklyn Bridge Park is to the East River. It's a beautiful paved walkway looking over the park.
Brooklyn's Central Park. Unlike Central Park, however, in Prospect Park, you cannot see surrounding sky scrapers. You can truly escape the city.
3418 locals recommend
Prospect Park
Brooklyn's Central Park. Unlike Central Park, however, in Prospect Park, you cannot see surrounding sky scrapers. You can truly escape the city.
One of my favorite parks. It's a simple square in the beautiful brownstone neighborhood of Ft. Greene. In summer, this is a great spot for tennis. There is a farmer's market. It's a great spot to feel the local/family oriented side of Brooklyn
791 locals recommend
Fort Greene Park
South Portland AvenueOne of my favorite parks. It's a simple square in the beautiful brownstone neighborhood of Ft. Greene. In summer, this is a great spot for tennis. There is a farmer's market. It's a great spot to feel the local/family oriented side of Brooklyn
McCarren Park
776 Lorimer StA spacious park in the heart of Greenpoint.
A fun, narrow park under the Williamsburg Bridge. There's volleyball, tacos, and a playground located under a giant blue crane.
432 locals recommend
Domino Park
15 Kent AveA fun, narrow park under the Williamsburg Bridge. There's volleyball, tacos, and a playground located under a giant blue crane.
A common spot for intramural sports and the food truck festival known as smorgasburg.
451 locals recommend
East River State Park
90 Kent AveA common spot for intramural sports and the food truck festival known as smorgasburg.
This is a small, chill park to play tennis, sit in the grass, or watch skaters at the skate park.
90 locals recommend
Cooper Park
Maspeth AvenueThis is a small, chill park to play tennis, sit in the grass, or watch skaters at the skate park.
Island
This island is the former seat of the British colonial government. It has beautiful bike paths and old architecture.
249 locals recommend
Governors Island
This island is the former seat of the British colonial government. It has beautiful bike paths and old architecture.
Accessible from Battery Park, this is the island hosting the statue of liberty.
IMO, viewing the statue of liberty from the Staten Island Ferry is the way to go.
47 locals recommend
Liberty Island
Accessible from Battery Park, this is the island hosting the statue of liberty.
IMO, viewing the statue of liberty from the Staten Island Ferry is the way to go.
This island is effectively one big park. People go here to exercise, hike, there is a riding school too if I'm not mistaken.
27 locals recommend
Randall's Island Park
This island is effectively one big park. People go here to exercise, hike, there is a riding school too if I'm not mistaken.
Ellis Island
The former through point of American Atlantic immigration.
Queens
Astoria Park
19 19th StLarge park under the RFK bridge with views of Randall's Island
On the Southwest corner of Queens, this park is the home of the famous Pepsi Cola sign
256 locals recommend
Gantry Plaza State Park
4-44 47th RdOn the Southwest corner of Queens, this park is the home of the famous Pepsi Cola sign
Home of the 64 world's fair. This is the site of the globe and saucers (perhaps most known from Men In Black).
250 locals recommend
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Van Wyck ExpresswayHome of the 64 world's fair. This is the site of the globe and saucers (perhaps most known from Men In Black).
Forest Park is a park in the New York City borough of Queens, spanning 538 acres. It is the tenth-largest park in New York City and the third-largest in Queens.
43 locals recommend
Forest Park
Forest Park is a park in the New York City borough of Queens, spanning 538 acres. It is the tenth-largest park in New York City and the third-largest in Queens.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Traveler Safety
While parks in general are very safe in the city, you still want to avoid these places at night.