My friend and I visited New York at the end of 2016 for ten days. We celebrated New Year’s Eve in New York City. I would say that our itinerary in New York City covered both outdoor and indoor point of interests. We visited 5 museums, 8 public New York City Parks, and 10 historical and famous landmarks in New York City. In previous posts, I have shared 10 top experience in New York City, 6 Best Museum in NYC, as well as 7 best places to visit in Midtown Manhanttan. In this post, I would like to share 8 beautiful New York City Parks.
1. Gantry Plaza State Park
Gantry Plaza State Park is located in Queens Borough. It’s a riverside park facing Manhattan Skyline including Empire State Building and United Nations. There are recreational facilities in the park, such as picnic tables, playgrounds, basketball courts, and etc. The location used to be a former dockyard and manufacturing district.
We came here around 7 pm, which was too bad, since we could not enjoy the sunset. However, the night view of the Manhattan Skyline from this park is remarkable. It was also during the winter, so it was freezing cold and not many visitors. However, it was our first day in New York when we visited it, so it was quite memorable for me to see the manhattan skyline at night for the first time.
2. Brooklyn Heights Promenade (with bonus view point of Manhattan Bridge)
We visited BHP twice, the first time in the afternoon, and the second time was at December 31st during New Year’s Eve countdown. “There may be finer views than this in the world, but I don’t believe it,” said President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, when he exited his carriage on the crest that gives Brooklyn Heights its name. (source: nycgovparks). I couldn’t agree more with this statement.
On a bright day, you would get picture perfect of Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge. If Gantry Plaza State Park Faces Midtown Manhattan, BHP provides the best view of New York famous bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge with the backgrounds of Manhattan beautiful skyscrapers and Hudson River. It makes one of the most beautiful New York City Parks with notable landscape.
Brooklyn Bridge was built at 1883 and one of the oldest suspension bridge in United States. This bridge connects Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is the area on the end of the Brooklyn Bridge at Brooklyn Side.
Though the area seems smalls, it may takes up one day to really enjoy and grasps the Big Apple from here. You can also enjoy the Manhattan skyscraper from different viewpoints such as from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1,2,3,5, and 6. We spent the afternoon at Empire Fulton Ferry Park where we stand literally under the Bridge. The view was just amazing.
Our journey that afternoon started at the end of Atlantic Avenue, continued to Furman Street and turn right to Plymouth street, Water street, and Front street. After visiting Empire Fulton Ferry Park, we stopped by the famous lookout of the Manhattan Bridge at the Washington Street. This provides the view of Manhattan bridge flanked by buildings. The surrounding buildings are probably apartments and both side of the streets were full of cars. Tourists flooded the street in order to get this view, and oftentimes met with the traffic. So, if you want to visit this lookout point, please be mindful with local resident and vehicle traffic in the neighbourhood. Manhattan suspension Bridge was built at 1909 and connecting lower Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn.
3. Bryant Park
If you’re tired and lost in the concrete jungle of Manhattan, allow yourself to take a break a bit from it in Bryant Park. Just the opposite of New York Public Library is the Bryant Park, one of view New York City Parks in Manhattan. It is more magical during Christmas, where the Christmas Market comes to life. Bryant Park on regular day is just as beautiful. However, during the Christmas period it’s more magical at night. With the Christmas market, skating ring, Giant Christmas tree, all ingredients to make a place special and magical.
Several food stalls available in the park and more stalls in the Christmas Markets. Local products are displayed from home decors, tabletop & Kitchen, clothing accessories, delicious meals, everything are displayed on the markets. Have a relaxed moment while trying waffle at Waffle and Dinge’s. We enjoyed it immensely.
4. Central Park
Central Park is located in Manhattan right in the middle between Upper west side and Upper east-side Manhattan. The area is 3.42 square km (843 acres) and the most visited urban park in United States with approximately 43 million visitor per year. Central Park was created at the beginning of 1858 to address the needs of rest from the rapidly growing New York City.
Inside Central Park is many notable monuments, bridge, and landscapes. There are also ponds and zoo inside the park. Some of the notable spots are Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, The Ramble and Lake, Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, Harlem Meer, Victorian Garden, Bow Bridge, Gapstow Bridge, and too many more. If this is your main destination, be prepare to spend a day or two in this park since it is so vast.
5. Madison Square Park
Madison Park is part of Madison Square, between Madison Avenue and 5th avenue. It is named after James Madison, 4th President of the United States. This park has famous building on its surrounding. For example, Madison Square Garden sport arena, Flatiron building, Metropolitan Life Building, and One Madison Park Building. The park is not that big, but rather a green sanctuary from the building jungle around it.
There is Shake Shack stall inside the park, should you want to have a snack while enjoying the green area. If you have spare time, you can also check the famous flatiron Building which located just around the corner from the park.
6. The Battery (Battery Park)
This New York City Park is located at the southern tip of Manhattan. There’s seaglass carousel, Statue Liberty which is visible from this park, The Battery Labyrinth and Oval, Bosque Fountain, and many more. Battery Park is best visited before/after visiting 9/11 memorial and museum and One World Observatory.
7. Washington Square Park
This park is located at Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan Area. Washington Square Park characteristic is its Washington Square Arch on its Northern Gateway, honouring George Washington, the man for whom the park is named, and its fountain (the arch’s elder by 43 years). This beautiful Park also houses several other monuments and facilities. (source:nygovparks)
8. The High Line
High line is the definition of the park in the sky. To me, this is the most unique park among all New York City Parks. It is located in the west part of Manhattan, this New York City park was built on historic, elevated rail line. This 2,3 km long elevated park starts from Gansevoort Street to West 30th street (runs north-south). The access to this “high park” available at 14th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 26th, 28th, and 30th streets (stairs only), and at Gansevoort street, 14th, 23rd, and 30th streets (by elevators and those with mobility access needs). However, during COVID-19 pandemic the entry to this park is only available at the corner of Gansevoort Street and Washington Street, or at 23rd Street, and move northward. The other passage points are for exit only.
if you have a short amount of time in New York and want to enjoy the view of its high rise buildings, parks, and emerge to its landscape, then The High line is the answer. By walking along this park from end to end, you will see New York’s old and new buildings rise from the ground, up close and personal. Passing building and art exhibitions (Yes, this park has features of contemporary art works which are displayed along the way). Moreover, it also has several viewing points that allows non-obstructed view of the New York avenues and streets, buildings, and street activities.
