Outdoors

New York City parks and outdoor places

New York City parks and outdoor places: start with Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park, and Fort Tryon Park. Use the 37 places below to build a plan around this theme; each place has source-backed details behind its description.

37 places

Places to start with

Harlem Meer

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Harlem Meer

A serene man-made lake in the northeast corner of Central Park, the Harlem Meer offers a peaceful escape for wildlife viewing, ca…

McCarren Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

McCarren Park

A bustling 36-acre urban oasis on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, featuring sports fields, a year-round farmers market…

Paley Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Paley Park

A serene Midtown oasis and the original "vest-pocket park," Paley Park features a stunning 20-foot waterwall that masks the urban…

The Great Lawn

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

The Great Lawn

A massive 55-acre expanse of greenery in the heart of Manhattan, the Great Lawn is a premier venue for sports, world-class concer…

Collect Pond Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Collect Pond Park

A serene urban oasis in Lower Manhattan marking the site of a vanished 18th-century freshwater pond, now featuring a reflecting p…

Columbus Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Columbus Park

A historic urban oasis in Chinatown, Columbus Park is one of New York City's oldest parks, offering a lively blend of cultural ac…

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Duane Park

A historic triangular urban oasis in Tribeca, Duane Park is distinguished as the first property ever purchased by New York City s…

Hallett Nature Sanctuary

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Hallett Nature Sanctuary

A secluded four-acre woodland in southeastern Central Park, this former bird sanctuary remained closed to the public for decades…

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Marcus Garvey Park

A 20.16-acre historic sanctuary on the border of Harlem and East Harlem, featuring a landmark cast-iron fire watchtower, lush law…

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Marsha P. Johnson State Park

A scenic waterfront park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, offering breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, historic rail-yard remn…

Squibb Park Bridge

Source-backed place · Viewpoints

Squibb Park Bridge

A modern, zig-zagging steel footbridge in Brooklyn Heights that provides a direct pedestrian link between the scenic Squibb Park…

St. Nicholas Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

St. Nicholas Park

A scenic 23-acre Manhattan park named for St. Nicholas of Myra, featuring dramatic Manhattan schist bedrock, the historic Hamilto…

Washington Market Park

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Washington Market Park

A 1.61-acre community sanctuary in TriBeCa, Washington Market Park blends athletic courts, inclusive playgrounds, and lush garden…