Of Manhattan's many parks that provide an escape from its hustle and bustle, is the East River Park, located in the lower east part of the borough. Spread across 45.88 acres (18.56 hectares), the park offers a whole range of activities for all age groups. Kids can play soccer, baseball, basketball and tennis on the athletics field while adults enjoy walks along the river taking in views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. A lot of families come here during summers for picnics. For art aficionados, the City Parks Foundation organizes a plethora of events like concerts, dance shows, theater, etc. at the park amphitheater.
Closed now
Located in Greenpoint-Williamsburg, Bushwick Inlet Park is a 28-acre (11.33-hectare) land surrounding the inlet. This natural oasis is a great recreational spot on the North Brooklyn waterfront. It is also the site where the launch of the USS Monitor took place. Visitors can unwind in the urban yet natural landscape, as well as enjoy a game of football or soccer on their fields.
The area where Christopher Park sits has been inhabited by Europeans since the early 1600s. The Director-General of New Netherland ran a tobacco farm, and the famous Irish sea-captain Peter Warren also owned property here. In fact, the park takes its name from the eponymous street in honor of Charles Christopher Amos, heir to the Warren estate. Over the following centuries as Greenwich Village developed, the encroachment by residential property forced the city to declare the park a public space in 1837. As the fortunes of the village ebbed and flowed in the 19th and 20th centuries, the park often garnered a reputation as a dangerous, shady place. The park is also known for being one of the sites that lit the fuse for the gay rights liberation movement when the tragic Stonewall Riots broke out in 1969. Christopher Park received a complete facelift in 1986, and many of the historic elements were restored, such as the 130-year-old fence and the statue of General Sheridan from 1936. In homage to, and in solidarity with, the LGBT movement, the statue “Gay Liberation” by George Segal was installed in 1992.
Closed now
Nolan Park
Located on the Governor’s Island within the Manhattan borough, Nolan Park is a lush green four-acre (1.61 hectares) recreation facility for locals and tourists alike. It is easily accessible by a ferry and is surrounded by 19th-century houses and buildings all painted in bright yellow color. It is a great place for a day picnic with your family or friends.
Closed now
