What New York City lacks in backyards, it makes up for in green spaces in the form of parks. Here you can find playgrounds, picnic spots and exciting activities happening virtually every weekend. These are some of the best parks that New York City has to offer.
Central Park
This is probably the most popular park for tourists to visit in New York City. At 38 acres, there are a variety of things to do here. Visitors can enjoy many trails, The Central Park Zoo, concerts and pick-up games of Frisbee and football. No matter what time of year it is, the park is beautiful with green trees in the spring and summer, fall foliage in the fall and snow blanketing everything in the winter. It’s probably not surprising that quite a few wedding proposals occur here each year.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
This nearly 85 acre park is located on the waterfront in Brooklyn. It’s very kid friendly with a playground, basketball courts, sports fields and a skating rink. There’s also Jane’s Carousel which is a restored 1920’s merry-go-round. One of the goals of the park is to bring about active recreation for visitors. The park often has literary readings and movie showings in the evenings.
Hudson River Park
Located on the Hudson River, this park offers great views for visitors. There are numerous spots to bike, skate or walk around. There’s a lot to do here including kayaking on the Hudson, taking part in a boot camp or enjoying one of the many groups that perform at the park. Hudson River Park is also a great place to just relax with it’s beautiful landscape and benches to lounge around on.
Riverside Park
Located on the Hudson River as well, this park can be found in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This four mile park includes a public marina, numerous paths, sports courts and a skate park. Riverside Park is also known for being featured in the movie You’ve Got Mail.
The High Line
This park is fairly new as it first opened in 2009 with its final expansion being completed in 2014. Located on the West Side of Manhattan, it features shallow pools, outdoor sculptures that change with the seasons and beautiful gardens. Want to just hang out and relax? There is a food court that serves sweet treats for the kids as well as wine for the adults.
